New Delhi: Wellness and well-being are commonly used interchangeably in the present times. They are not, however, synonyms, so knowing their differences is important. The two terms have grown in popularity in recent years, especially in self-care and holistic health.
In this context, ABP Live sought the opinion of a few experts who could elaborate on the difference between wellness and well-being.
Speaking of wellness, Shweta Tanwar Mukherjee, who is an entrepreneur, content creator and wellness advocate said, "Wellness refers to the overall state of being healthy in all aspects of life. It encompasses physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, and environmental dimensions, each of which is interconnected, and neglecting one area can impact the others."
She further added, "The primary focus of wellness is maintaining health in all dimensions of life but, it has a narrow scope, focusing on specific areas of life such as physical health and social connections."
Speaking about well-being, she said, "Well-being is a broader concept that encompasses wellness but goes beyond it. It is the overall state of happiness, health, and fulfilment and it includes the subjective and objective life satisfaction measures, such as happiness, fulfilment, purpose, and contentment."
A focus on wellness can help people find a sense of meaning and fulfilment in their lives, which is an important component of well-being. Focusing on overall well-being, on the other hand, can assist people in identifying areas of their lives that may require improvement and taking action to address those areas.
Sana Afreen, CCO & Assistant Director of Program Management of Rizzle, also shared her opinion saying, "Wellness involves making healthy choices in various aspects of life, such as diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep. By taking proactive measures to maintain or improve health, individuals can achieve a sense of wellness and vitality that enables them to thrive."
"On the other hand, well-being includes a sense of purpose and meaning in life, positive relationships with others, financial security, a sense of community, and overall life satisfaction.", she further went on to say.
Wellness is important for overall well-being because good physical and mental health are required for living an enjoyable life. However, well-being extends beyond physical health to include a wider variety of factors that contribute to overall happiness and life satisfaction. Individuals can cultivate a feeling of balance and fulfilment by striving for wellness and well-being.
Lastly, Hitesh Chakraworty, Spiritual Healer & Founder, ISSAR shared, "When we see ourselves in the mirror, we think that the face and body are what we are. And this is where the word wellness comes in. Wellness refers to our efforts to take care of our body which is our identity to the planet. It is generally defined as a state of being in good health, both physically and mentally and is a holistic approach to health, considering the interdependence of the mind and body. When we try to maintain a healthy body and mind, but still feel empty from inside, it is when we realize there is a missing link which connects us to our soul; this is when we want to work for our well-being."
"Well-being refers to a much deeper connection between an individual and Mother Nature. People who work on their well-being do not even know that they are actually working for the well-being of the entire planet, where each and everyone are interconnected.", he further went on to say.
Thus, we can conclude that the state of being healthy and feeling good is referred to as wellness, whereas well-being is a broader notion that includes more than just physical and mental health. Wellness is a state of physical and mental well-being that entails making deliberate decisions and taking actions to promote a healthy and happy life. But, well-being is a comprehensive approach to health that recognises the interdependence of the psyche and body.