Intellectual + Financial Wellness: Feeling Clear, Capable, and in Control

When did you last take time to read a book for pleasure?

When we think about improving our wellness, our minds usually jump to physical health—maybe sleep, nutrition, or movement. But two often-overlooked dimensions of wellness are just as important: intellectual and financial wellness.

They might not sound warm and fuzzy at first—but when they’re out of alignment, they can leave you feeling stuck, stressed, and disconnected from yourself. And when they’re nurtured, even in small ways? You feel more confident, curious, and in control of your life.

🧠 Intellectual Wellness: Stretching Your Mind Without Overloading It

You don’t need to be reading philosophy or working on a degree to support your intellectual wellness. This dimension is about keeping your mind engaged and challenged in ways that feel meaningful to you.

Intellectual wellness looks like:

• Learning something new just because it interests you

• Reading fiction that sparks your imagination

• Having thoughtful conversations

• Taking a break from information overload to let your brain breathe

• Solving problems in creative ways

  
  

If you feel foggy, bored, or like you’re going through the motions—your intellectual self might be craving attention.

✨ Ask yourself: When was the last time I was curious about something just for me?

💵 Financial Wellness: Feeling Safe, Supported, and Informed

Financial wellness doesn’t mean you have to have everything “figured out” or be completely debt-free. For many of us, money is a source of stress and shame—and that’s especially true for women navigating caregiving, career pivots, or systemic inequality.

Financial wellness is about:

• Feeling secure and informed in your current situation

• Making choices that support your goals and values

• Letting go of guilt around what you “should” be doing with money

• Building habits (even tiny ones) that reduce stress over time

  
  

This might look like tracking spending for the first time in years, setting up an automatic savings transfer, or simply talking more openly about money with a trusted friend or professional.

✨ Ask yourself: What would help me feel more financially steady this season?

A Gentle Reminder

You don’t have to overhaul your life to improve your wellness. You don’t need a budget spreadsheet and a book club by Friday.

You just need awareness.

Start noticing which areas of your life feel nourishing—and which feel draining. Then take one small step that supports the parts of you that feel underfed. And remember: you don’t have to do it alone. As a coach, I walk with my clients to explore these areas with curiosity and compassion—not judgment.

Next week, we’ll explore two more often-overlooked pieces of wellness: environmental and social. You won’t want to miss it.

💜 Until then, ask yourself: What does my brain need right now? And what kind of support would help me breathe a little easier financially?