Promoting Well-being is one of the four dimensions of the DU 4D Experience. We define well-being as an evolving, dynamic state of living that contributes to thriving and life satisfaction. We cultivate well-being both individually and collectively, within and in support of the communities in which we learn, live, and work.
Some well-being frameworks include factors such as intellectual and career well-being; at DU, the 4 Dimensional experiences also highlights Exploring Character, Advancing Intellectual Growth, and Pursuing Careers and Lives of Purpose in addition to Promoting Well-being.
Emotional Well-being
Experiencing awareness of positive and negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Regulating emotions
Responding to life's challenges with resiliency
Foundational Well-being
Basic needs being met to provide a firm foundation for thriving, such as :
Food, housing, and safety
Environmental wellbeing
Financial well-being
Physical Well-being
Experiencing strength and energy in the body/mind
Caring for the body in ways that contribute to health and thriving
Relational Well-being
Experiencing acceptance, support, and belonging thorugh interactions and connections with others
Feeling positive about one's cultural and social identities
Spiritual Well-being
Experiencing a sense of meaning and connection within the self
Emotional well-being encompasses optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance, and the ability to experience and cope with feelings independently and interpersonally. Emotional well-being includes practicing self-care, fostering inner resources and resiliency, finding unique ways of coping with stressors, creating satisfying relationships and setting boundaries, empathizing with others, being realistic about expectations and time, and knowing when to ask for help.
Increase Your Emotional Well-Being
Take time for yourself. Be sure to set aside time for activities that help you relax and relieve stress. Looking for a podcast or app recommendation for mental health? Check out this link.
Don't be afraid to ask for help! Call or visit the Health & Counseling Center (HCC) to schedule a confidential counseling appointment. You can also call the HCC after hours to speak with a counselor on call.
Learn more about stress and check out some tips for managing it here.
Physical well-being is not just about the absence of illness, but maintaining a lifestyle that supports your health and ability to thrive. This includes adopting habits such as routine medical exams, immunizations, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings, getting adequate sleep, maintaining a balanced diet, committing to regular movement or activity, and more. It's about minimizing risky behaviors and cultivating habits that make you feel better and suit your lifestyle.
Increase Your Physical Well-Being
Incorporate regular movement or physical activity into your daily routine. Go for a walk, ride your bike, or check out what offerings at the Coors Fitness Center.
Make food choices that are balanced and make you feel well. Connect with Sodexo Dining Services to see what options they have and what support they can provide.
Feeling sick or need a flu shot? Visit the Health & Counseling Center for a wide range of medical and counseling services.
Take charge of your sexual health by using protection, having open communication with your partner(s), getting tested for STIs, and getting routine physical exams.
Relational well-being focuses on connecting with your community and the people around you. This includes being aware of your own social and cultural background as a bridge to understand diversity and depth present in other backgrounds. This dimension encourages taking an active part in improving your communities, connecting with others, establishing supportive social networks, developing meaningful relationships, and creating inclusive and anti-oppressive spaces.
Foundational Well-being means your basic needs are being met to provide a firm foundation for thriving. This may include secure food, housing, and safety, as well as environmental and financial well-being.
Download the DU Safe App to receive campus safety alerts, request a Virtual Walk Home, Report a Crime Tip, access the Safety Toolbox, and more (Google Play, Apple App Store)
Check out CashCourse, a free, web-based, self-directed financial literacy program that provides students with financial information, tips, and skills necessary to be financially successful.
Spiritual well-being involves seeking and acquiring meaning and purpose in life, as well as participating in activities that are consistent with one's beliefs and values. It is more than prayer and believing in a higher being. A spiritually well person seeks harmony with the universe, expresses compassion toward others, and practices gratitude and self-reflection. When we integrate practices of spiritual well-being we are able to connect in mind, body, and soul.