Whilst we know that when we’re stressed, we should take some time to look after ourselves and make sure we’re feeling ok, but what do we actually do when it comes to wellness itself? And what is wellness?!
The dictionary states it as:
noun
1.
the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, especially as the result of deliberate effort.
2.
an approach to healthcare that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life, as opposed to emphasizing treating diseases.
The purpose of wellness is not to only reach for strategies when we ARE feeling stressed and we’ve come to the point of run-down, it’s the daily strategies we implement so that when stressful and challenging situations arise (which are inevitable), we automatically know what to do and how to react. Most importantly, the stress and challenge feels manageable, easy and not overwhelming. It’s all about looking after yourself consistently in body and mind to prevent illnesses, diseases and bad mental and physical health rather than stressing and dealing with it when it arrives. Think of it as physical AND mental fitness.
We go to the gym to look after ourselves physically, maybe we enjoy the way it makes us feel, or we want to lose weight or stay healthy – it’s the same with wellness. Rather than having a physical gym to use, there are strategies and coaches to make the most of, to use daily and ultimately you’ll gain the same thing. We learn to enjoy the way we feel, we lose all the things that aren’t serving us any more (stress, anxiety, anger etc) and we stay healthy, mentally.
So, do you need to do anything about wellness?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I feel 100% calm and in-control all the time?
- Do I sleep consistently like a baby?
- Does my body feel supple and strong every day?
- Am I completely and consistently in-control of my emotions?
- Do I feel content and happy over 90% of the time?
- Do I handle stress and challenges with ease and confidence?
- Do I feel no self-doubt, negative thinking and lack of confidence ever?
I may not be psychic, but it’s likely you answered no to most of those questions. If you didn’t – go you! But I’m quite sure you do not consistently feel or experience these things. It’s part of human existence to feel emotions, stress and negative thinking. Because of that, wellness is something we all need to integrate into our lives. Just like we’re taught to look after ourselves physically when it comes to fitness and exercise, we just as much have to look after ourselves mentally when it comes to wellness.
Because it’s normal to experience stress, anxiety and challenges, and it’s likely we will come across illnesses and diseases (even common colds, bad skin, low energy are classed here) it’s something we all need to be aware of. Stress is one of the main underlying and basic reasons we experience illness and disease. It is the main underlying and basic cause of bad sleep, 3/4 doctor visits are stress related and millennials and women are feeling it more now than ever – so why are we so behind when it comes to making wellness fundamental in our lives?
There are a MILLION ways we can look after ourselves mentally and physically, in mind body and spirit when it comes to wellness. And if the term ‘wellness’ feels weird for you, change it up to ‘mental fitness’ instead. You may find yourself doing some of these things already, and you may find yourself doing these things regularly, but the aim is to do these things consistently and to find a way to integrate them into your routine with ease.
Here are several wellness strategies (tick off the ones you do, and double tick if you do them daily 😉 )
- Meditation
- Visualization
- Mindfulness
- Mindset training
- Physical exercise
- Yoga
- Gratitude
- Healthy eating
- Charity + donations
- Drinking water
- Regular stretching
- Vision boards
- Clean + organize
- Walk in nature
- Hug others
- Read a book
- Learn a new skill
- Turn your phone off before bed
- Socialize + talk with friends
- Journal your day
- Listen to music
- Positive affirmations
- Goal setting
- Morning routine
- Simplifying
There are so many more ways you can integrate wellness into your day, and sometimes it takes someone to come in and guide you in the right direction – it’s hard to see where you can make changes if you’ve become accustomed to a stressful life! Here are a few signs that you may really need to consider implementing a wellness routine into your life (p.s. I’ve experienced all of these things at one point in my life, and I fully understand it’s not a fun place to be)
- Poor sleep
- Irritability
- Bad skin
- Fatigue
- Low motivation
- Anxiety
- Negative thinking
- Stress
- Physical aches and pains
- Low mood
- Low sex drive
- Sadness
- Confusion
- Mood swings
If you’ve ticked quite a few, or even one and you feel it’s taking over your life then let’s get wellness into your life! Life is not about stress, anxiety, rushing and waiting for the weekends to enjoy yourself, it’s about smiling, loving and appreciating every single moment you are given.
Pick 1-3 things from the first list that feel accessible to you. If you’re very busy and know you’re not the best at sticking to new things, pick one and only focus on it for 10 minutes, 3 times a week. If you’re totally ready and raring to make a change in your life, pick 3 things and try them 3 times a week, or even every-day if you feel you can. The point is not to overload yourself, because quite often we quit before we can feel the effects because it feels too hard to maintain, so slowly but surely is the best way to go.
Grab yourself this habit tracker, and click whatever links are available in the above list to make life easier for you. Add them into your habit tracker and let’s start this wellness journey tomorrow.
If you’re completely fed up, you’re at the end of your tether or you generally feel overwhelmed by the thought of doing this then you might want to consider a coach. The purpose of a coach is to guide you, support you and help you where you’re struggling. They do the work for you by identifying your major stress points and suggesting specific strategies to overcome this. They’re there to hold you accountable so you don’t fall off the wagon and they’re there to help you understand yourself when life gets hard. They’ve been there and done that and know what works and what doesn’t.
I know you’re ready for a coach, or some support in the right direction and that’s why I’m here – I’m a Wellness Coach + Yoga Teacher for busy, stressed ladies and millennials. Let me help you find your Sweet Spot and actually start loving your life. Sign up to the Weekly Wellness Tips or reach out to me to start your wellness journey today with a free discovery call – 30-60 minutes of strategy and wellness to identify your biggest stressors and learn how to overcome them 🙂
You can do that here. I look forward to chatting you beautiful human!