Happy New Year from all of us at Lakeland Chiropractic. I hope your 2026 is off to a great start and that we’re all following through on the resolutions we’ve made to make this year our healthiest one yet! Today we’re going to be discussing an often misunderstood concept – wellness. Wellness is defined as “the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health”. The key takeaway from that definition is that wellness is active and not passive. Wellness is often confused with health & happiness, which are static states. Wellness is an active process of being aware and making choices that lead towards optimal health. Wellness is holistic in that it is about more than just your physical health. As we’ll see later, there are actually eight different wellness dimensions that impact your life and overall health. Wellness is about living life fully, allowing you to become the best version of yourself that is humanly possible.

Much like your health, wellness works on a continuum. Don’t think of your health as a static state, but rather an ever-changing continuum ranging from illness to optimal well-being. Contrary to popular beliefs, you’re never static. You’re always either moving towards illness or towards wellness. With wellness being an active process, the choices that you make determine which way you’re moving. The diagram below does a great job of illustrating this.

People in a state of illness/poor health are forced to engage with the medical paradigm before they can even begin to think about wellness. In other words, you have to put out the fire before you can think about rebuilding the house. The medical paradigm is primarily focused on making someone feel better and treating disease, while wellness is focused on improving overall health and thriving. One tends to be more reactive while the other is primarily proactive. Please let me note that one paradigm is not better than the other and that they both are incredibly important. I’m very grateful that the medical paradigm exists in the event that a crisis arises. By prioritizing wellness, your focus is on thriving, holistic health, and acknowledging that the responsibility is your own.

As we stated above, wellness is multidimensional. Let’s take a closer look at each of these eight core dimensions of the wellness paradigm and some of the things you can do to work on each one.

• Physical Wellness → nourishing a healthy body through regular exercise, proper nutrition, staying hydrated, and prioritizing sleep
  • Sleep: prioritize your sleep and make changes to your nightly routine to set yourself up for a night of good quality sleep; sleep is critical for physical recovery, mental clarity, and emotional stability amongst other things
  • Exercise: regular physical activity to boost health and performance; will also help reduce stress/anxiety
  • Hydration: staying hydrated is essential for proper bodily function, maintaining energy levels, and supporting overall health
  • Nutrition: eat a balanced, protein-rich diet and practice mindful eating habits (not eating right before bed, avoid processed foods/added sugars, alcohol in moderation, etc.)
• Mental Wellness → engaging the world through learning, problem solving, creativity, etc.
  • Start a daily morning/nighttime routine
  • Routinely exercise your brain through puzzles, crosswords, etc.
  • Never stop learning and improving (personal growth seminars/books)
  • Practice stress management techniques (box breathing, mindfulness practices, meditation, etc.)
• Emotional Wellness → being aware of, accepting of and expressing our feelings, and understanding the feelings of others
  • Daily gratitude practices – start the day by thinking about three things you’re grateful for
  • Journaling your thoughts; positive affirmations
  • Be present in the moment and self-aware (daily reflection)
• Spiritual Wellness → searching for meaning and higher purpose in human existence
  • Spend time in prayer or meditation
  • Have a clear understanding of your personal values
  • Engage in activities that provide purpose and sense of fulfillment
• Social Wellness → connecting and engaging with others/communities in meaningful ways
  • Socialization: spend time with friends/family who elevate you
  • Relationship: develop/maintain healthy and supportive relationships
• Environmental Wellness → fostering positive relationships between planetary health & human actions
  • Volunteer to help your community
  • Spend time out in nature
• Occupational Wellness → find a career that encourages you to pursue opportunities that you most enjoy and recognize the importance of satisfaction, enrichment, & meaning through your work
  • Explore opportunities that arise and weigh whether or not they push you to a new level
  • Practice open communication and conflict management w/colleagues
  • Set realistic career goals that push you to be better
• Financial Wellness → learn how to successfully manage and grow your finances
  • Have an understanding of your budget
  • Consider working with a professional to help you grow your wealth
  • Make small changes that add up over time

I hope that you have a better understanding of what wellness truly is. Remember, it’s not a static state or a destination, but rather an active process that you only you have control over. YOU get to choose what decisions you are going to make to push yourself in either direction of the wellness continuum. By picking a one or two examples from each of the wellness dimensions (and sticking with them), you can drastically improve the quality of your health and your life. Fall in love with the process and let’s make 2026 great!

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