The 5 Aspects of Holistic Health: Holistic Health Series

Last month I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Elizabeth Perry speak to her work in Holistic health. Thus birthing the monthly Holistic Health Series post.

But first, let’s review…

What exactly is holistic heath?

Holistic health refers to treating the whole person: body, mind, and soul. Often, this treatment combines western medicine with alternative healthcare practices. It goes beyond treatment of symptoms so that a person can get support for more than just the body.

Why is it important today?

Humans today are experiencing chronically high levels of stress, fatigue, and burnout. With more demanding lives (family, career, etc…) we are needing more support to feel fulfilled and healthy.

Modern day healthcare focuses more on prescribing and treating symptoms. With chronic disease and other preventable disease, holistic health helps target not only physical symptoms, but behavior change and emotional well-being.

So what are the 5 aspects of Holistic Health? Here’s a quick breakdown:

1. Physical Health

• Sleep

  • 7-8 hours for adults

• Diet

  • Nutrient-dense meals

• Exercise

  1. Taking advantage of moving the body

2. Emotional Health

• How we feel

  • Therapy is an exploration of healing or relieving the emotional self

  • Mindfulness and stress reduction techniques help manage daily stressors

3. Social Health

• Deep connections with friends, family, and community

  • Set aside time for in-person contact

  • Get involved with the surrounding community

  • Be prepared to set boundaries with those who bring stress/ toxicity

4. Spiritual Health

• How you connect with your inner soul and the universe (this does not necessarily mean religion)

  • Spend time in nature

  • Meditate

  • Spend time practicing your faith (if you are religious)

5. Mental Health

• While similar to emotional health, the difference is emotional health refers mainly to our daily mood, and mental health refers to overall cognitive abilities that affect brain functioning

  • Healthy diet impacts brain functioning

  • Being invested in opportunities to challenge the brain (work, volunteering, and other problem-solving activity)

  • Therapy is also beneficial

In regard to holistic health, each of the five aspects above interact and influence one another. So, if one is struggling, it’s likely that other aspects of health will start to struggle as well. As we think about balance in our lives, we ask ourselves, how is each piece of my health performing? Where do I need to give some extra attention and love?