The Definition of Optimal Health

Optimal health can be defined as "being your best with what you've been given." Most of us think of optimal health as having to do with our physical bodies: proper nutrition, getting the right amount of sleep and exercise, etc. But optimal health actually incorporates a much broader spectrum. According to Michael O'Donnell, MBA, MPH, there are, in fact, five key areas to keep in balance in order to achieve optimal health: physical, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual.

Physical health

• A daily workout is essential for optimal health

  Optimal physical health covers the themes of nutrition, fitness, medical self-care and controlling chemical abuses. Most people understand that to be physically fit and healthy, we must eat a healthy diet that is rich in fruits and dark green leafy vegetables, whole grains and the proper amount of protein. We need to schedule a daily workout and get an adequate amount of sleep. We need to accept responsibility for our own health, and prevent serious disease and other health issues through healthy choices we make every day. We need to avoid damaging substances like tobacco, alcohol and addictive drugs.

Emotional health

• Express who you are

  Optimal health also includes healthy emotions. Every person has a certain amount of stress in her life. Most of us have bills for which we are responsible, appointments we must keep and families to care for. Many of us also have much additional stress to deal with, such as extremely demanding jobs or job loss, toxic relationships, a loved one's death or poor health, or divorce. For optimal health, we have to develop good coping skills to deal with life's stresses. We can either develop these skills on our own or we can get professional help. Either way, we have to deal with stress and emotional crises in healthy ways, or they can lead to imbalances in other areas of our lives.

Social health

• Choose friends who will support your dreams

  A supportive social network is vital for optimal health. Having friends and a family that love and affirm us is essential to great health. You can make friends in your neighborhood, at your children's schools and activities, from involvement in hobbies and interests, at your job and at your place of worship.

  We need to learn how to love ourselves and become our own best friends. We must discern which friends and other relationships support our personal growth, and which relationships are hindering us from becoming the best we can be. We elect to keep those friends who will stay with us through thick and thin and who will lift us up when we are down. We must leave behind those people who do not have our best interests at heart.

Intellectual health

• Your career should be more than just a job

  Intellectual health has to do with our level of education, our careers and our personal achievements. These are all important pieces of optimal health. Many people are limited in what they can achieve because of family or other responsibilities placed on them by others or taken on themselves. At work, stress can result from the possibility of job loss, working toward a promotion or strained relationships with co-workers.

  It is important to set career goals, but not just for financial gain. Other aspects must be considered, such as child or adult care responsibilities, a desire for more flex time or personal values.

Spiritual health

• Spirituality is an important aspect of optimal health

  Spiritual health starts with believing in Someone or Something bigger than ourselves, and is often expressed by acts of love and kindness toward our fellow human beings and the environment. We need to develop a positive attitude and have a sense of hope for a bright future. Giving to others and serving in our communities and our families give us a sense of purpose and belonging. Learning that happiness comes from within rather than from external and temporal things brings a sense of inner peace and contentment.