The
words “health” and “wellness” are often used interchangeably. The
media, coaches, and even your doctors may use either word as a catch all
for the status of someone's combined physical and mental state of
being. This can be confusing since there are key differences between
health and wellness.
In this article, we aim to help you understand these differences to
support you in unlocking a more holistic approach to your own
well-being.
Understanding Health
Overall health goes beyond whether or not you are sick.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) goes out of their way to
make that distinction. The WHO defines health as “a state of complete
physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity.” This perspective surpasses the narrow scope of a
disease-centered approach. By highlighting various aspects of well-being
and prioritizing it over the mere absence of illness.
Within the domains of health, physical well-being includes not only mitigating metrics like blood pressure or cholesterol but encouraging health through lifestyle behaviors
such as physical activity, a balanced diet, and prioritizing high
quality sleep. The inclusion of emotional health recognizes that mental
and emotional factors play a large role in overall well-being. Social
health refers to what’s known as the social determinants of health, the way in which our environment and the need for connection dictate many long-term health outcomes.
Wellness: Beyond the Domains of Health
While health is a state, wellness is a process which NASM refers to as the wellness journey. It includes the intentional choices
you make for your physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.
In a truly holistic approach, each of these domains is interconnected.
For example...
- Those with healthy social relationships are likely to have a better emotional state and an improved mood.
- Just like someone who is working on their mindset and relationship
with themselves is also more likely to take care of their physical
needs.
That’s why the wellness journey is approached with the whole person’s well-being in mind.
Dimensions of Wellness
Wellness includes our emotional, physical, occupational, social,
spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial selves. Here’s a
breakdown of four of those dimensions:
1. Physical Wellness
isn’t only doing exactly what’s optimal for your physical health but
considering how to leverage your physical self for your total
well-being. For example, movement has been shown to not only help
support mental health and limit depression, but also boost your mood for up to 24 hours
after a workout. Someone prioritizing wellness might choose to do
physical activities they enjoy for more than the exercise benefits.
2. Emotional Wellness
is the recognition that, when it comes to our mental health, the
absence of the bad isn’t the same as the presence of the good. Working
on emotional wellness might include prioritizing positive emotional experiences, and finding things you enjoy that aren’t detrimental to other aspects of health and well-being.
3. Mental Wellness
also goes beyond the absence of mental health challenges. This can
include someone’s productivity, personal organization, goals, values,
and finding meaning and purpose. Mental wellness includes practices that help focus the mind and benefit productivity, creativity, mindset, and self-talk.
4. Social Wellness
refers to our relationships, community, and feelings of connection and
meaningful contribution. Humans are deeply social creatures, and the
quality of our relationships has a significant effect on all other
aspects of health and wellness. Social wellness strategies include
communication skills to form positive relationships, maintaining good
boundaries, and more simple things like inviting others to join you for
your wellness activities.
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Applying the Differences Between Wellness and Health Practically
Let's consider an individual with a chronic illness who might not fit the conventional health definition in the eyes of others.
Under the revised WHO perspective, this same person can
attain emotional and physical well-being while receiving support from
loved ones. This individual may also embrace additional wellness
techniques like meditation, journaling, improved nutrition, quality
sleep, and personalized safe physical activity.
An excessively narrow viewpoint on health or wellness can also cause difficulties.
Take, for instance, someone with an unhealthy perspective on
wellness, who dismisses health screenings as ineffective or
opportunistic, and thus solely focuses on wellness tactics.
An example of this could be an individual who believes exercise and
protein supplements suffice and uses them to justify neglecting medical
check-ups. Consequently, they remain unaware of their excessive
training, leading to high blood pressure and eventual illness and harm.
Your Health and Wellness Journey
On your own health and wellness journey you’ll want to consider what
works for you in your own life. That means finding wellness practices,
health monitoring, and practitioners that work well for you.
Health and Wellness Coaching
For those interested in helping others on their wellness journey, coaching can be a rewarding and effective career.
The primary differences between a health coach and a wellness coach
are their focus of work, who their clients are, and if the changes are
prescribed.
A wellness coach focuses on the ongoing process of a client’s overall wellness. Outcome-based goals will be chosen by the client and become the focus of the coaching work.
In contrast, a health coach focuses on the health outcomes of their client,
typically related to their physical health status. A health coach works
with individuals who’ve had a clinical diagnosis that requires
sustained lifestyle changes.
Educational Requirements
Whether you’re interested in becoming a health or wellness coach,
you’ll want to seek out an education program that supports your goals.
Wellness coaching certification typically involves in-depth learning
about the domains of wellness, human motivation, behavior change, and
coaching skill that allow you to support others.
To learn more about NASM's evidence-based Certified Wellness Coach
program and how it can empower you to guide clients towards lasting
betterment of their lives, click here.
How much does it cost to become a health and wellness coach?
The cost of certification to become a qualified wellness coach will
vary depending on the course you choose, and you can expect paying
anywhere between $650 and $7,000, according to TheBalance.com. A
reliable course will be grounded in science, cover the area of expertise
you wish to practice in, and include information about behavior change
and coaching techniques such as Motivational Interviewing.
How much do Health and Wellness Coaches make?
According to Salary.com, the median income for a Health and Wellness
Coach is $61,000 with the typical salary range falling between $53,000
and $68,000.
Those new to the practice will likely make less while they establish
their business, and those with specialized expertise and long-term
practices may charge a higher hourly rate or form other streams of
related income.
Applying wellness to your current profession
While current fitness professionals, such as Certified Personal
Trainers and Certified Nutrition Coaches, can find ways to implement
wellness coaching into their current business, professionals in other
areas can benefit just as much.
Wellness coaching can be applied in various professional settings,
such as corporate environments, healthcare institutions, and educational
institutions.
By offering personalized guidance on work-life balance, resilience,
and time management, professionals can empower their clients, students,
and co-workers to navigate unique challenges effectively.
By promoting self-discovery, setting meaningful goals, and providing
ongoing support, they can guide others towards achieving a balanced and
fulfilling life.
💪🏻 Do you have a passion for helping others? Start your journey in becoming a NASM Certified Wellness Coach.
Final Thoughts
Health and wellness can seem like interchangeable terms, and are
often used that way, but are distinct. Understanding and purposely using
each word can empower you to take a more informed and therefore
empowered approach to your own well-being. Bringing intentionality to
your mental, physical, emotional, and social wellness, you’re able to
build a more complete state of health.
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