The health triangle (also called the “wellness triangle”) is a simple visual that represents the overall state of your social, physical and mental health. Read on to learn why it matters and how to keep the sides in balance.
The three sides of the health triangle
The health triangle’s three sides represent your mental, physical and social health. No side is more important than any other, every aspect affects the rest and they’re all important for a healthy lifestyle.
Here are some common ways they interact:
Mental → physical: decreases or increases the stress hormone called cortisol, affects how you approach physical activity and physical self-care
Mental → social: impacts the health and quality of relationships, encourages social interaction or isolation
Physical → mental: produces or reduce motivation, clears the mind or creates brain fog
Physical → social: affects the ability to leave home and take part in activities
Social → physical: can improve cardiovascular health, can improve the functioning of the brain
Social → mental: the health of relationships impact mental health, can encourage a sense of belonging and help you feel safe, can improve cognition.