Holistic Wellness in a Digital World
Twelve years navigating diverse, global working environments brought me face to face with the stark reality of burnout and the need to understand what it means to be truly ‘well’ in this digital age.
Ways of working transformed indefinitely in 2020.
Fast forward four years, the global workforce finds itself adopting digital or hybrid working models - a shift accelerated by the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
When I left university, I prioritised building a digital career to afford the flexibility of travel. 12 years later, I am confronted by the significant loss of social connection this choice to ‘go digital’ has brought. I experienced and navigated challenges of isolation, lack of support, burnout and difficulties in creating and maintaining healthy habits or routines…
My journey towards wellness started with tough love. I was hard on myself. I wanted to be ‘well’ immediately. I followed plans, sought out new hobbies and created daily checklists making sure I was drinking enough water, sleeping enough hours. I was exhausting myself, trying to bring wellness into my life.
Then I came across the holistic approach to wellness and it transformed everything.
What is Holistic Wellness?
“Holistic health typically considers the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. A holistic approach to healing goes beyond just eliminating symptoms”
(Patwardhan, 2015).
There are many models and approaches to holistic wellness. In my research and work with digital nomads and remote / hybrid teams, I have applied a holistic wellness model that seems to resonate with clients.
Here's a straightforward breakdown of the six domains of wellness by Hudson-Vitale and Waltz (2020):
Physical wellness: Prioritize your body's well-being.
Emotional wellness: Acknowledge and embrace feelings.
Spiritual wellness: Seek purpose beyond day-to-day realities.
Vocational wellness: Balance calling, money, career.
Social wellness: Foster meaningful connections with others.
Cognitive wellness: Stimulate your mind beyond work / study.
A holistic approach means accepting you won't be perfect in every area. Our attention or focus may be placed differently on each domain, at a given time. As we move through life, our wellness needs shift; so must our priorities.
For example, we may assess wellness across these domains and discover we are not taking the time to exercise, spend too much time on technology and are lacking in social connection. As we take practical steps to address these issues, the ‘deficit’ we were once working with transforms and another area comes into focus.
This approach to wellness requires releasing the grip we may have on ‘achieving goals’ and invites us to become flexible to what our body, mind and spirit need, in response to outer world events and circumstances.
We should still be proactive and setting goals help us build habits and healthy systems of living. And we should be willing to adapt those goals when called to.
What does this mean practically for digital / hybrid workers?
Digital wellness is a growing topic of interest for HR and OD professionals. Ways of working have changed so fast that we are still learning about best practice when it comes to nurturing healthy, productive digital / hybrid workplaces. While research and practice in this area continues to grow and consensus on best practice develops, there are already some steps that you can take to ensure you are managing your wellness as a digital / hybrid worker.
Here is a good place to start
prioritize breaks
set boundaries for work hours
get out into nature!
integrate physical activity into your routine
listen to your body
:create space for F2F social contact
tailor wellness practices to suit your needs
And here are juicy questions you can reflect on, with holistic wellness in mind…
Notice: How does your current daily rhythm impact your daily emotions? Identify patterns that contribute to or detract from a balanced emotional state.
Observe: What nourishes and brings you joy, that you can experience without the use of technnology?
Consider: When do you feel most energised, motivated and in flow?
Explore each wellness domain (above): Where does your tank feel full and where does it feel empty, across the entire holistic model?
Importantly
Taking control of your wellness through a holistic approach may invite resistance from those with different views. Through this approach, you set goals based on what works for you, not for external recognition or validation.
It's about developing your own inner compass and sticking to what aligns with your vision for holistic wellness. It requires regular self-check-ins and self-monitoring - the holistic model and these reflective questions are a good place to start!
Remember, it is a journey…
Your first step towards holistic wellness is to notice, observe, consider and explore. Meet yourself where you are.
Someone will always be more disciplined, active, motivated. But they are not you. A transformative journey towards holistic wellness requires being honest and kind to yourself. You may not be where you want to be; just know one small action everyday, will build a foundation upon which you can build a long, happy and fulfilled life.
If you're motivated but unsure of where to start, reach out!
Let's explore how you can lead your own journey towards holistic wellness.
Jx
