Wellness

Emotional wellness is defined as an awareness and acceptance of a wide range of feelings in yourself and others. It is the ability to understand, manage, and express your feelings in a healthy and constructive way; to understand your own limitations, and know how and when to seek support to address areas of concern. An emotionally well person has the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses, to adapt to and cope with change, and to learn and grow from difficult situations. 

Ways to Support Your Emotional Wellness:

• Make 10 minutes each day to unplug from phones, social media and your computer
• Regularly move your body in ways that bring you joy
• Stay on top of schoolwork
• Get adequate sleep
• Cultivate an awareness of your thoughts and feelings by practicing mindfulness meditation
• Learn relaxation and stress management techniques
• Spend quality time with trusted friends and family
• Regularly practice gratitude
• Ask for help or see a counselor at Student Counseling, Health, & Wellness

Campus Resources:

• Student Counseling Center
• Disability Support Services
• School of Psychology, Family, and Community (Living Well Initiative)
• Active Minds

Environmental wellness is a sense of comfort, safety, and connection with the physical and social environments that surround you. It involves understanding the world around you, how you interact with it, and the impact your actions have.

Ways to Support Your Environmental Wellness:

• Recycle
• Donate unwanted clothing
• Use reusable bags and water bottles
• Bike or walk when you can
• Be mindful of your water use
• Choose locally-sourced food when possible
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use
• Unplug devices
• Cultivate environments that support well-being at every opportunity
• Call out disrespectful or harassing behaviors and comments that create a negative social environment

Campus Resources

• Sustainability at SPU
• Disability Support Services
• Accessibility Map
• Report an Accessibility Issue

Financial wellness is a state of being where a person has the security and freedom to make choices in life, based on their financial situation and money choices. It can also be defined as having a good relationship with money.

Ways to Support Your Financial Wellness:

• Create a budget
• Ask for student discounts
• Track and review your spending so you know where your money is going
• Start a savings account and aim to add a small monthly amount, if possible

Campus Resources

• Student Financial Services
• Financial Aid
• MoneyWise
• Swipe out Hunger

Intellectual wellness is the practice of engaging in mentally stimulating activities to acquire, apply, and share knowledge. It involves continuous learning in a variety of settings, such as educational, cultural, community, and interest-related.

Ways to Support Your Intellectual Wellness:

• Take a class outside of your field or concentration
• Read for pleasure
• Check out a seminar or conference on something you're unfamiliar with
• Attend a play, museum exhibit or poetry reading
• Debate with someone (respectfully)
• Learn another language
• Do crossword puzzles
• Engage in research opportunities

Campus Resources

• Academic Support Center
• University Scholars
• Study Abroad
• Writing Studio

Physical wellness is a state of physical health that allows people to perform daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress. It involves recognizing the need for physical activity, balanced nutrition, and sleep, as well as preventing illness and injury or managing chronic health conditions.

Ways to Support Your Physical Wellness:

• Seek medical care when needed for illness, injury and preventative care
• Practice good self-care consistently, like developing well-balanced and healthy eating habits, moving your body regularly and getting enough sleep
• Practice behaviors that support your immune system and prevent illness
• Take care of your sexual and reproductive health
• Pay attention to and support your emotional wellness
• Develop and cultivate leisure activities
• Limit your use of alcohol, if you choose to drink at all
• Avoid tobacco products and other drugs; take medications only as prescribed

Campus Resources:

• Health Services
• Athletics
• Intramural Sports & Fitness
• Exercise & Weight Room
• Dining Services / Meal Plans
• Swipe out Hunger
• Office of Safety & Security
• Student Programs & Outdoor Recreation

Relational wellness focuses on establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships with self, other individuals, groups and communities and develops from our interactions and connections with others. Having a network, grounded in supportive relationships, can help create feelings of satisfaction and security.

Ways to Support Your Relational Wellness:

• Take time to get to know yourself
• Join a club or organization
• Participate in study groups
• Make an effort to stay in touch with family, friends, and mentors
• Volunteer in the community
• Maintain balance between work and social time

Campus Resources

• Office of Student Involvement & Leadership
• Associated Students of Seattle Pacific (student government)
• Collegium (for commuter students)
• Activities & Clubs
• International Student Services
• Intramural Sports & Fitness

Spiritual wellness is a person's sense of purpose and meaning in life, which can include their morals, ethics, and beliefs. It can also involve a connection to something greater than oneself, such as a higher power, nature, or a community. Spiritual wellness can be a diverse and individualized aspect of health, and some say it's the most important aspect because it gives context to other parts of life.

Ways to Support Your Spiritual Wellness:

• Keep a journal
• Attend religious services
• Spend time in nature
• Engage in prayer
• Practice gratitude
• Explore meditation

Campus Resources

• Campus Ministries
• Chat with a Pastor
• Chapel
• John Perkins Center
• Community Garden

Vocational wellness is about proactively preparing for and engaging in work that is meaningful and enjoyable to you. This dimension of wellness is about finding personal satisfaction and enrichment in one’s life through your work and career. It is about finding career opportunities that are aligned with your values and life goals, while also maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It can apply to academic work, jobs, or volunteer work.

Ways to Support Your Vocational Wellness:

• Reflect often – where do you find joy and meaning in your life?
• Explore different career and/or volunteer opportunities that arise
• Keep an open mind
• Participate in internships or research opportunities
• Take advantage of career service resources
• Practice open communication and proper conflict management with your colleagues
• Set realistic career goals for yourself and working towards accomplishing these goals
• Find a balance between work and relaxation

Campus Resources

• Center for Career and Calling
• Student Employment
• Handshake
• Mentor Program