Where to start when you don’t know where to start.

Words by Kelly Müller

The words ‘wellness’ or ‘wellbeing’, I think, are still confused with the often unattainable Instagram lifestyles of daily yoga and organic food. That might be an exaggeration, but when I speak amongst peers and even friends, wellness is often scoffed as being something they tend to ‘if they have time’. It’s simply not prioritised as it should be.

Our overall ‘wellness’ is made up of many different pillars - what we eat, how much sleep we get, how much exercise we do, how we manage stress - and together, help us to thrive instead of simply surviving. When one, or any, of these pillars are out of balance it can cause us to feel overwhelm, stress or worse and yet too often, too many of us wait until crisis point before we prioritise our personal wellness.

I feel like a broken record but ‘the system is broken’, we all know that – too many people need help and there are just too little resources - which is why I think it’s so important that we start to take more of a holistic approach to our mental health and overall wellbeing & encourage our loved ones to do the same.

From self-care to mindfulness, mental health to fitness, food and finance, the many pillars of wellbeing are what inspired the Bonny Co Directory, where we partner with brands and businesses that support your overall wellbeing and that of others – a place that gives you options when you don’t know where to start.

Therapy is always a good idea, but supplementary support can come in many tangible forms. We all deserve to feel our best and the more we understand what works for us as individuals, the more we can start to take control of our own happiness and ultimate wellness. Here’s a breakdown of some of the different pillars we believe to be of importance and what they mean.

PHYSICAL

While an active, healthy lifestyle helps to minimise chances of illness and disease, maintaining physical health is about so much more than that. It’s not about being the fittest, the strongest or the skinniest, it’s about using movement to support your state of mind. Plenty of research shows that poor physical health can lead to mental health issues and vice versa, so it makes sense that physical and mental wellbeing are intertwined. It doesn’t have to be running a marathon or hitting the gym five days a week, it’s about trying different things until you find the one that works for you. If you’re adverse to exercise, a gentle 30 minute walk once a day can boost your serotonin levels and have you feeling calmer, happier and healthier.

MENTAL / EMOTIONAL

This pillar is all about how we feel and I think, the one that’s most easily confused. The concept of ’mental health’ is still widely linked to mental illness, but this is your reminder, mental health does not mean mental illness. It’s important to know that one can exist without the other and mental health, just like physical health is something we all have.

Life can bring many unexpected and painful surprises, plenty of ups and downs and unimaginable losses. Ensuring our mental / emotional wellness is cared for, perhaps through breathwork, journalling, spending time with family and friends, meditation, yoga, exercise, reading a book, seeing a therapist or otherwise, helps us to be more in-sync with ourselves. Take note of things that make you feel good and do more of it. The more aware you are of how things affect your day to day, the more you can prioritise your wellness.

FINANCIAL

The Australian Psychological Society has reported personal finances as one of the main causes of stress in Australia. It’s not surprising, is it? Having security in our finances and feeling as though we have enough money to live adequately helps us to feel more in control. Knowing how to save, budget and manage finances effectively is a great way to start maintaining a good level of financial wellbeing. Want short, easy to digest information that you can absorb in your own time? Head over to wherever you like to listen to podcasts and check out our friends at The Curve.

SOCIAL

Humans have an innate desire to be part of a group and encircle ourselves with love, support and care. Social health is therefore about forming and maintaining positive relationships, being of service to others, being able to manage resolutions calmly and recognising our impact on others. To improve social wellbeing, it starts first with practicing your own self-care – nurturing yourself - and then you can nurture those relationships around you. Whether it’s joining a club or simply feeling part of a community, having social interactions that align with your values can positively impact your mental state dramatically.

SPIRITUAL

This pillar is perhaps the most unique as it’s such a personal piece of overall wellness. It may relate to faith but it could be more aligned to purpose, direction and meaning in your life. Spiritual health is about personalising your own journey and maintaining a values-based approach to life.

INTELLECTUAL

Our intellectual wellness is where personal advancement and community activities come into play, designed to help keep our brains engaged and learning new things. Intellectual wellbeing isn’t confined to a classroom, each and every moment of life is a growth and learning opportunity and can include things that strengthen the mind through critical thinking, stimulating curiosity, problem solving and creativity.

OCCUPATIONAL / PROFESSIONAL

More than the money you make or the title you hold, what excites you about your work? This pillar embodies your unique abilities, gifts, passions and ambitions and how what you do makes your everyday life meaningful. It’s why doing something you enjoy, and making a change if you do not, is so important. It’s not just about job satisfaction, it’s about achieving a feeling of belonging, meaning and purpose.

ENVIRONMENTAL

When we speak to our ‘environment’, it might be our homes, our neighbourhood, our country or our planet as whole. It refers to the relationship between ourselves, our community and Mother Earth and the way in which we care for each.

How an individual approaches holistic health will vary by person, family or community and there is no right or wrong way. Our belief is that the pillars of wellbeing are constantly iterating – being built on and evolving – and all we can do is our best.

Feeling a bit off? Take a look at our Directory and see if there’s a way you can lessen the load of yourself or someone you love.