Intellectual Wellness

Personal Wellness Goals for 2023

Karen Best Wright, B.S., M.A., Holistic Health & Wellness Coach

 Holistic Health & Wellness – Personal Goals for 2023

Newyear2023.bEvery January, millions of Americans make promises to improve themselves - better health, improved organization, more money, better relationships, and more happiness. Most of these individuals will not stick to their resolutions. Why is that? One reason may be that New Year resolutions rarely consider how all six areas of wellness create balance and well-being, which improves the ability to achieve the desired goals.

Goals such as "losing 20 lbs.," quitting smoking," or "obtaining better employment" are worthy goals, but rarely are they accomplished without the influence of all areas of wellness. Holistic wellness includes physical health, emotional health, social health, intellectual health, spiritual health, and environmental health. These six areas of wellness factor into the success of accomplishing any important goal or resolution.

The three examples of losing weight, quitting smoking, or getting a better job are all influenced by physical health, emotional health, social health, and even intellectual well-being.

This process is called holistic health and wellness. All areas work together to create a synergistic well-balanced life. If a person wants to lose weight, she most likely will not thoroughly study all areas of wellness that could affect her success. However, it is possible to recognize the most apparent areas of wellness that will impact progress. In the example of losing weight, one's overall health is likely the first thing a person will consider. Emotional wellness is also vital because emotions often drive people to overeat or eat the wrong foods simply from habit. Social interactions often influence how and what a person eats. Intellectual wellness is also involved, as it allows a person to learn proper nutrition.

No matter which goals a person chooses to improve during 2023, they will all be influenced by other areas of wellness. When writing down goals for the New Year, note all areas that will impact your ability to accomplish these goals. Those who have become discouraged and don't want to make any resolutions could start with something relatively easy. It may be as simple as walking around the block three or four times a week. Whatever your situation, do something.


Intellectual Wellness: How to improve intellectual wellness

By Karen Best Wright

Published in Albemarle Tradewinds

AlbemarleTradewinds.com

Intellectual Wellness pertains to developing the ability to learn, retain the knowledge learned, and apply it to everyday living. There is a wide range of intellectual abilities, from intellectual disability to intellectual genius. Most people will be somewhere in between these two extremes.

Directly related to Intellectual Wellness is one's mental or cognitive acuities. Cognitive or mental acuity refers to how the brain functions. Intellectual Wellness is affected by the ability or disability to learn, the ability to retain the learning, and the ability to apply that learning to proper functioning in life.  In turn, Intellectual Wellness can affect all other areas in life.

The basics of Intellectual Wellness may begin with the ability to read, the level of reading, and retaining the information. After gaining knowledge, applying that knowledge to make proper judgments in decision making and interacting with others promotes Intellectual Wellness.

Intellectual Wellness or cognitive acuities is affected by various factors. The first could be someone's innate ability they acquired at birth. However, many things besides genetics are involved. Everyday choices can affect one's ability to learn and think clearly. Thinking skills such as reading, writing, planning using logic, having stimulating discussions with others, continually learning new skills, and being aware of the effects of any medication promote intellectual wellness.

Developing intellectual skills affect all areas of life. Intellectual Wellness improves one's ability to make proper physical health choices such as nutrition and healthy activities. It benefits emotional health by understanding moods and consequences. Intellectual Wellness helps with social interactions with family, friends, and strangers. It even helps with the last two areas of wellness, Environmental Wellness, and Spiritual Wellness. It creates the ability to think, retain that knowledge, and apply it to life.

Various behaviors can impair intellectual skills. Lack of sleep, drugs, alcohol, certain prescription medications, a poor diet, and even the aging process cause impairment. Some of these areas are easier to correct than others.

Intellectual Wellness affects all phases of life, starting from childhood to well into the aging process. Activities and abilities will vary, challenges will arise, and frustrations may occur. When a person can learn, comprehend, and make autonomous decisions, hope for a healthier life exists.