Healthy Habits: Incorporating Wellness Into Your Routine
Life can get busy. Too busy. And before you know it, you are burnt out, tired with little patience, and no time to yourself. Incorporating wellness into your daily routine is essential for maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle, but of course, this is easier said than done. How I like to think about it, is if life is made up of all the little moments, then we only need a number of little moments to create wellness and self-care. By prioritizing self-care and adopting healthy habits, you can enhance your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Here are some practical ways to incorporate wellness into your daily routine. But remember we always want to do one thing that soothes us physically, mentally and spiritually throughout the day as those are the components that complete the human experience.
Start Your Day Mindfully: Begin each day with a moment of mindfulness. This could simply be smelling your coffee, taking 5 deep, intentional breaths, or stepping outside for fresh air. All it takes is 5 minutes or less, but it will go a long way! This will touch on your spirit or soul pillar of health.
Limit Screen Time: Reduce your exposure to screens, especially before bedtime. Limiting screen time can help improve sleep quality and reduce eye strain and mental fatigue. This will help with your mental pillar of health.
Connect with Others: Cultivate meaningful connections with friends, family, and colleagues. Make time for social activities and maintain open communication with loved ones. Strong social connections are essential for emotional well-being. Or, conversely, if social connections are too draining for you, then find and cultivate moments on your own in the silence or quiet. This will also touch on your mental and spiritual pillar.
Take Regular Breaks: Schedule regular breaks throughout your day to rest and recharge. Step away from your work or daily responsibilities to stretch, take a short walk, or go outside. This can help prevent burnout and improve productivity. This helps with your physical pillar of wellness.
Move Your Body: Find ways to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, whether it's going for a walk, practicing yoga, or hitting the gym. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week to promote cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and improve mood. This is crucial for our physical wellness.
Create an After-Work Routine: Once the work day is done, find one thing that is realistic that will help detatch yourself from the workday you just had. For example, playing music in the car on the way home and singing a song, going for a walk, have a tea and take 5 minutes for yourself before things get busy again!
The most important thing about starting to make time for yourself is not creating excuses! That is why find small and realistic things you can do that has a big impact on how your body or mind relaxes. For some personalities it may be spending time alone after being with people all day, and for others it may be meeting up with friends. Or perhaps a workout is what breaks up the day. As long as you are finding one thing a day that helps your mental, physical and spiritual wellness, you are on the right track! Notice how these little moments go a long way.