We tend to forget about the simple pleasure of living when life is happening.
We have responsibilities.
Work.
Family.
Managing our finances.
Trying to find a few moments for ourselves.
Remembering to eat.
And breath.
And remembering that we are more than how we sometimes allow others to make us feel.
In honor of National Wellness Month, this post will delve into getting through that tightly weaved net of chaos that keeps us from finding peace and mindfulness and wellness.
Emotionally.
Mentally.
Physically.
This is all very important. Take one of these out of the wellness equation and we falter.
As life throws us unexpected curveballs and our blood pressure spikes from all that surprise anxiety, let’s hit the pause button and prioritize our physical, mental, and emotional health.
What Holds Us Down So Much?
You’ve heard the old expression about death and taxes. There’s a lot of truth to it. I spent many years believing that saying. Death. Taxes. They’re both a sure thing, right?
Well, it turns out so are small steps to better ourselves when it comes to getting healthier in every way.
August is here, and you know what that means?
It’s National Wellness Month!
Time to focus on putting action into those small steps of improvement.
Think of Wellness Month as a giant bookmark in the novel of your life.
It’s a reminder that our self-care and wellness routines should take center stage.
So, swap that cheeseburger and fries for some grilled chicken, a baked sweet potato, and a green salad. Your future self will thank you.
Instead of sneaking into the fridge for leftovers, lace up those sneakers and go for a brisk walk. Your waistline and your emotional health will both benefit.
been staring at your headphones telling yourself you’ll listen to those morning and evening guided meditations but haven’t done it yet? Like Nike says, “Just do it.”
Wellness Month also helps us ditch those old beliefs that we’re not good enough, thin enough, rich enough, young enough, or talented enough.
Let’s close that chapter and start a fresh, blank page where we write our own future
The way we want it to be without anyone else’s input.
Did you know 80% of chronic diseases are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices? That’s a lot of unhealthy humans living unnecessarily unhealthy lives.
Let’s explore how we can make the most of Wellness Month and embark on a journey toward a healthier, happier life.
What is Wellness Month?
Wellness Month was designed to motivate people to make small, daily changes that lead to long-term improvements in our physical, mental and emotional health.
I know. That’s a full sentence, I know.
The focus is to inform and empower people to grab the reigns of their current self and enter the throes of better well-being, guide themselves toward improved physical, and other means of wellness and mindfulness to provide ourselves for a better life in general.
The month-long effort encourages people to make room for being a little healthier and more mindful.
Even if it’s just baby steps for some of us.
By dedicating a month to wellness, we can do something to help ourselves with the goal of bettering our lives.
Let’s Get Physical!
Physical activity is just something we all have to do for our bodies and our health.
It just works.
I am not the best image of my own health currently.
(I hate to admit that actually.)
But in the past, I was obsessed with power walking. It got me in shape, I lost a ton of weight, and I felt more in control of myself emotionally.
I realized that physical fitness is a must when trying to lose weight and get in shape.
I have since started walking a mile each morning every day. Raining? I throw on a baseball cap. Cold? I add an extra layer that I can easily remove when I get warmer as I walk. Hot? I just deal with it. (I’ e made the hot weather an excuse for way too long. I have since just grinned and bared it and I feel better because of it.)
Along with the feeling good part, regularly exercising reduces the risk of diseases, enhances a good mood, and boosts energy.
Incorporating exercise into your daily routine doesn’t have to be a huge weight on your shoulders.
Start with baby steps, like a 10-minute walk in the morning before work, or a beginner’s yoga class on the weekend.
Mind Over Madness
Mental health is something that we must pay attention to on to. It really is as important as taking care of our physical health.
Getting a grasp on the stress and anxiety we encounter on a daily basis can affect our well-being in a positive way.
Techniques like mindfulness and meditation help calm the mind and improve focus, which are things we need in order to function.
Some ideas are deep breathing exercising, mindful meditation, and working on hobbies that encourage happiness.
Eat the Rainbow
A balanced diet is something we truly need to maintain good health. It goes hand in hand with getting out there and taking that walk.
(Baby steps, remember?)
What we eat impacts our energy levels, what our mood is, and what our overall well-being turns out to be.
Making small changes to our eating habits can have such a massive effect on all of those things.
Some ideas for this kind of healthy relationship with ourselves includes planning what we eat to make sure we are eating a balanced, needed meal to best support our bodies and minds.
That includes consuming more fresh fruits and veggies and adding a lot of water to keep our bodies hydrated and functioning at its best.
Try staying away from processed foods and keep whole foods in mind and on your plate.
Nutrients and vitamins from fresh, whole sources help our bodies, minds and emotions function better than stuffing it with comfort food and junk foods.
Feeling Better Emotionally
Emotions can run our lives. We all want the secrets to emotional health, but we don’t always get that.
Having a strong support system can help with this.
Whether it’s a group of people we meet with weekly, a therapist we consult with a couple of times a week, a weekly support group we attend, or an online therapy program that keeps us aligned with emotional health, these are all great resources to keep yourself in check.
I have to confess that in my experience, all of these work.
But don’t forget to include the support system your close friends and family may be able to offer you either.
Sometimes that may not work due to certain situations like those people being the source of our anxiety, but a lot of times it does.
Just judge that accordingly based on your situation.
Building strong social connections and having a support system can significantly improve our emotional health.
(Don’t knock that until you try it.)
I have found great relief from my friends listening, helping, and trusted guidance has gotten me through so many issues that I never thought I ever could without them.
Happy Employees, Happy Bottom Line
Workplace wellness programs are becoming increasingly popular as employers recognize the benefits of a healthy workforce.
Unfortunately, some still don’t recognize the importance of employee emotional health, which can result in workers having feelings of isolation, unworthiness, and emotional distress that builds up over time if not addressed.
There’s nothing wrong with a little extra effort from employers to make sure the people they hire to literally “make their business” have outlets for emotional stress relief instead of the employees putting up with things for years on end without solving and settling these problems.
Productivity ceases, and the general work environment is compromised if this is not done efficiently.
Some things employers can promote to help better the workday and employee emotional health, and morale might include:
- Encouraging regular breaks
- Stretching or taking a short brisk walk around the building
- Providing healthy foods and beverages in the office
- Providing stress management classes or online emotional wellness therapy resources
- Paid mental health paid days off throughout the year to enhance performance and appreciation from employers
Doing this for employees provides a feeling of being needed and appreciated.
It also allows for an improved level of company morale instead of feelings of unworthiness, loneliness and not feeling needed.
I know people who have worked for companies for over ten years that have just quit because they felt unappreciated, overwhelmed due to a lack of communication, and unworthy because they felt isolated and alone.
It just doesn’t have to be that way.
It’s worth keeping those reliable employees that have been there for years on end.
There’s really no reason for business owners not to make the small investment in the emotional health of their staff and keep them feeling good and appreciated in the workplace.
Strength in Community Involvement
Being part of a community and engaging in social activities can give us a real boost in the “feel-good emotions” department.
We feel loved, cared for, like we are part of something bigger than ourselves that makes us feel good inside.
Volunteering and taking part in community events can provide a sense of purpose and connection.
Some suggestions of community activities might include:
- Gathering others to pick up trash on the beach together to help clean up our environment.
- Volunteering at a soup kitchen or local outreach program to help others in need.
- Attend social events and gatherings to build relationships and find common interests with others.
- Delivering meals or needed items to other members of the community when they are ill.
- Calling others when they are sick, dealing with loss, or just feeling lonely.
What’s Your Wellness Plan?
Just as a daily planner to keep ourselves organized and in touch with what’s happening in our hectic lives, so does a plan of wellness.
We can set goals that are practical, realistic, and even if we are taking those baby steps as we go along, we can still strategize them for an achievable outcome.
By assessing our health and happiness (or lack thereof) and setting doable goals to achieve better health all around can help to keep our eye on the prize of feeling better.
Keeping track of what we are doing and how we are progressing in a daily journal or tracking log can help greatly to keep us on track and be proud of ourselves in the process for those accomplishments.
Celebrate Wellness Month
Wellness Month is a milestone in the year when we can take a moment and just take care of ourselves.
We can pause, reboot, refresh, and refocus on what’s important in our lives in terms of physical, mental, and emotional health.
Balancing better habits, reminding ourselves we are worth doing those, and reaping the benefits of them, can keep us feeling proud of our baby steps of improvement.
They are all important things that are actionable steps in feeling and doing better.
MY MINDFUL REQUEST:
I would love to hear what wellness tips or ideas you have. Share those with me in the comments below!