Are Wellness and Fitness the Same?
During August, we celebrate National Wellness Month, a time to raise awareness for the value of our well-being. Despite the fact that some people mistake the two, there is a significant distinction between fitness and wellness. Fitness is the state of being physically healthy. Wellness is the daily practice of healthy habits to achieve better life outcomes, so that you're not just surviving but thriving. Both complement each other within our health; however, each has different goals and processes.
FITNESS
Health in its physical sense is the main focus of fitness. The term refers to a range of physical activities and exercises that improve an individual's strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall physical capability. Strength training with weights or resistance bands, flexibility exercises like yoga or stretching, and cardiovascular exercises like running or cycling are common components of fitness routines.
Achieving and maintaining fitness is about consistent physical activity or body movement, and often involves setting specific performance goals, such as running a race or lifting a certain weight. Below you’ll find a list of fitness goal ideas for both adults and children!
Adults:
Walk 10,000 steps a day
Stretch for 10 minutes a day
Complete a 30-day fitness challenge
Go hiking!
Children:
Play outside for an hour a day
Join a sports team or club
Go for long family walks
Learn fun and easy yoga poses!
WELLNESS
There are a lot of strategies to promote our own wellbeing, let alone our children's. The Wellness Wheel, which illustrates the various areas of health, is a crucial framework in our lives. The majority of people's standard of living is determined by the quality of their contributions to each area of wellness, so the Wellness Wheel has been a life-changing tool for many who want to live happy, healthy lives. While quality is a personal concept that depends on an individual's experiences, culture, and principles, there is an accepted view that self-awareness and self-discipline with regard to one's well-being can help define quality.
Achieve balanced wellness by focusing on each area of health:
Physical : Maintaining a healthy body through exercise, nutrition, sleep, and regular medical check-ups. Include regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate rest within your daily routine.
Emotional : Understanding and managing one’s emotions, and coping effectively with stress. Practice mindfulness, seek therapy if needed, and build a strong support system.
Intellectual : Engaging in creative and mentally stimulating activities, and lifelong learning. Read regularly, engage in stimulating discussions, and take up new hobbies.
Social : Building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships. Cultivate meaningful relationships and participate in community activities.
Spiritual : Finding purpose, value, and meaning in life, often through connection with a higher power or nature. Spend time in nature, meditate, and reflect on your values.
Occupational : Achieving personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work. Pursue fulfilling work, seek work-life balance, and strive for career growth.
Environmental : Living in harmony with the earth by protecting it, as well as maintaining an organized and clean space. Adopt sustainable practices and respect the spaces of others.
Financial : Managing one’s finances wisely to reduce stress and build security. Budget wisely, save for the future, and seek financial literacy.
In summary, wellness and fitness are not the same things, despite their relationship. While wellness is a comprehensive approach that includes physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, occupational, environmental, and financial well-being, fitness is an essential component of physical health that emphasizes exercise and bodily function. Living a life that is more balanced and fulfilling can result from embracing both ideas, especially for children.