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Wellbeing, what is it?

WELLBEING: what is it and where do you get it?

Wellbeing is not just the absence of disease or illness. It is a complex combination of a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social health factors. Wellbeing is strongly linked to happiness and life satisfaction. In short, wellbeing could be described as how you feel about yourself and your life.

Factors that influence wellbeing

Every aspect of your life influences your state of wellbeing. Researchers investigating happiness have found the following factors enhance a person’s wellbeing:

  1. Happy intimate relationship with a partner
  2. Network of close friends
  3. Enjoyable and fulfilling career
  4. Enough money
  5. Regular exercise
  6. Nutritional diet
  7. Sufficient sleep
  8. Spiritual or religious beliefs
  9. Fun hobbies and leisure pursuits
  10. Healthy self-esteem
  11. Optimistic outlook
  12. Realistic and achievable goals
  13. Sense of purpose and meaning
  14. A sense of belonging
  15. The ability to adapt to change
  16. Living in a fair and democratic society.

Factors are interrelated The factors that influence wellbeing are interrelated. For example, a job provides not just money but purpose, goals, friendships and a sense of belonging.

Some factors also make up for the lack of others; for example, a good marriage can compensate for a lack of friendships, while religious beliefs may help a person come to terms with physical illness.

Wealth is not the key.  Money is linked to wellbeing, because having enough money improves living conditions and increases social status. However, happiness may increase with income but only to a point. Many people believe that wealth is a fast track to happiness. But it’s not true. Various international studies have shown that it is the quality of our personal relationships, not the size of our bank balance, which has the greatest effect on our state of wellbeing. Believing that money is the key to happiness can also harm a person’s wellbeing. For example, a person who chooses to work a lot of overtime misses out on time with family, friends and leisure pursuits. The added stress of long working hours may also reduce a person’s life satisfaction. Research shows that people who pursue ‘extrinsic’ goals like money and fame are more anxious, depressed and dissatisfied than people who value ‘intrinsic’ goals like close relationships with loved ones.

Wellbeing can be elusive

Wellbeing is important but seems a little hard to come by.

One American study into mental health found that, while one in four respondents was depressed, only one in five was happy – the rest fell somewhere between, neither happy nor depressed. A recent Australian consumer study into wellbeing showed that:

58 % wish they could spend more time on improving their health and wellbeing.

79 % of parents with children aged less than 18 years of age wish they could spend more time on improving their health and wellbeing.

83 % are prepared to pay more money for products or services that enhance their feelings of wellbeing.

How to achieve wellbeing

  1. Develop and maintain strong relationships with family and friends.
  2. Make regular time available for social contact.
  3. Try to find work that you find enjoyable and rewarding, rather than just working for the best pay.
  4. Eat wholesome, nutritious foods.
  5. Do regular physical activity.
  6. Become involved in activities that interest you.
  7. Join local organisations or clubs that appeal to you.
  8. Set yourself achievable goals and work towards them.
  9. Try to be optimistic and enjoy each day.

READ MORE www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au