National Guard members may weather a number of unique challenges related to their
Military Service, including difficult duty assignments,
long separations from loved ones, combat stress, physical injuries, and others.
Many Service members also contend with issues at home that may affect their families,
jobs, and local communities.
By identifying fitness areas and learning valuable skills to improve and maintain
them, Service members are better able to cope with stress, navigate life changes
with greater ease, and be proactive in preserving overall resiliency. These fitness
areas are known as the “Pillars of Wellness.”
Click on the buttons below each definition for more information, and learn about
skills you can develop to assist you on your path to overall fitness!
Emotional Wellness
Emotional wellness includes being self-accepting,
self-aware and able to handle your emotions constructively. Some signs of emotional
wellness include
- The ability to identify and express your feelings where needed
- Managing your emotions in a way that maintains your flexibility and poise during
challenges, conflicts, and other potentially destabilizing situations
Go to the Emotional Wellness Page
Physical Wellness
Physical wellness may be achieved through
proper nutrition, physical activity, and flexibility, and not just for your Physical
Fitness Test! A physically well individual will:
- Maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Possess good eating habits
- Engage in regular physical activity
- Recognize the signs of injury and illness
Go to the Physical Wellness Page
Spiritual Wellness
Whether or not you connect with a religion,
spiritual wellness means finding meaning and purpose in your life, which are necessary
to foster hope. A Spiritually healthy individual will:
- Cultivate an awareness of unity with something greater than themselves, whether
that ‘something’ is a cause, a positive emotion, God or humanity as a whole
- Contemplate questions like, “Who am I? Why am I here?”
- Feel comforted and hopeful, not isolated
Go to the Spiritual Wellness Page
Social Wellness
Social Wellness is all about maintaining
harmonious relationships with your friends and loved ones, interacting positively
with your social environment and cultivating connections to help you feel supported.
Individuals who achieve social wellness are able to:
- Communicate easily with others
- Function well in their duty assignment, place of employment and community
- Engage in positive relationships
Go to the Social Wellness Page
Family Wellness
Your family unit is just as important as
your military unit. Cultivating Family Wellness involves supporting your children,
having support strategies for spouses, partners or parents, and maintaining the
health and unity of your family. A healthy family will:
- Seek support in the absence of a Service Member
- Create a loving, accepting and stable environment for their children
- Approach challenges as a unified group
Go to the Family Wellness Page