by Amy Reece Connelly with REA Career Services
As health care reform dominates the news in much of the western hemisphere, multi-national corporations may find wisdom from wellness philosophy as a means of preventing illness, particularly for employees and their families in transition.
The National Wellness Institute, founded in 1977, identifies six components of wellness: social, physical, intellectual, occupational, emotional and spiritual. Theoretically, if one or more of these components is out of balance, the imbalance manifests itself as stress, which can create or exacerbate physical illness. Awareness of and attention to the components of wellness may be key to preventing some health concerns, and for relocating families, can support a successful transition to a new location.
Social Wellness refers to an individual's interaction with his or her environment and community. Providing information about the new community and facilitating opportunities for transferees and their families to meet peers contributes to the wellness goal of living in harmony with others and the environment.
Physical Wellness is concerned with becoming physically fit and providing nutritious food. Identifying healthy food sources, locating fitness facilities and dedicating family time for physical activity are all objectives to achieving wellness in this area.
Intellectual Wellness includes engaging in creative, stimulating mental activity. Relocated employees immerse themselves in new work activities, but their accompanying partners may feel isolated, useless, and in need of meaningful activity, particularly after the logistics of the move are settled.
Occupational Wellness refers to personal satisfaction and enrichment in one's life through work. While the relocated employee is immediately engaged in his/her new job, many spouses have left their own careers behind, and may need support in exploring employment options or a meaningful pursuit.
Emotional Wellness is the degree to which an individual feels positive and enthusiastic about his or her life. Encouraging employees and their families to examine how they feel about the changes that have occurred due to their move helps them to accept these changes and make forward-looking plans.
Spiritual Wellness relates to an individual's search for meaning and purpose. Living in a way that is consistent with closely-held values promotes growth in this area.
Recognizing the components of wellness can support relocating families not only in achieving optimal health, but it can also contribute to successful transitions and enhance corporate relocations.
Amy Reece Connelly, an Indiana-based career consultant, is a Global Services Team Leader for Ricklin-Echikson Associates (REA), an international HR consulting firm specializing in career and transition assistance for the accompanying spouse/partner of relocated employees. She is also a veteran of 15 moves accomplished as a child, a young adult, a newlywed and a (semi-single) parent and spouse of a deployed military officer. Contact her at
reainternational@tds.net and
www.r-e-a.net.
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