Let’s talk about WELLNESS.
Just one word yet so many definitions - let’s talk about what wellness might look like to you.
WELLNESS.
What first comes to your mind?
Perhaps self care, such as basic hygiene, exercise, eating healthy... But it goes way beyond all of that. These days there are so many ways to stay in tune with your wellness and create a plan that is possible for you in your life, your world, your daily schedule.
Now there are 3 main parts to your being - your mind, body, and soul. In this post, I'm going to cover some of my favorite wellness activities for each.
MIND
Breathe. Breathe deeply and completely. Breathe INTENTIONALLY.
Make one change to your daily routine. Whether it's big or small, bring one positive thing into your life that you can promise yourself every day.
Meditate! Whether you do a guided meditation, sit in silence, intentionally breathe for a certain period of time, or even just sit and listen to music mindfully. Give your brain some quiet time!
Journal/Write. Sometimes getting your thoughts out on paper or angrily typing in the notepad app on your phone is okay. It's actually extremely healthy and most importantly, helpful! The only person who needs to ever see it is you. You can even shred it or rip it up when you're done as a release!
Schedule time for yourself. Some days are busier than others. Don't forget to put a moment in each day of an activity you enjoy! Watch a 30 minute show, listen to a podcast, paint a picture... Don't cancel on yourself.
Fix your sleep schedule. I don't have to say much here - I think we all know that sleep effects us in MANY ways. A bad night's sleep is almost always destined to be followed by a difficult day. Do yourself a favor and take control before your unhealthy habits catch up to you!
Doing something creative. Creativity is a like exercise for your mind! When you feel satisfied and stimulate your brain it helps calm stress and anxiety. Do a puzzle, draw, do color by number, do your makeup, garden, cook, ignite an old passion, or find a new one!
Spend more time with animals. It doesn't matter if you're home or at the zoo. Animals are everywhere. Spending time with other living things is fascinating - to communicate on a non-verbal level is a deep connection. I have personal experience with this one... I've always had pets growing up. I now have my own dog and cat and I cannot imagine life without a fur baby by my side. They are little angels! They're amazing listeners and also give lots of cuddles - especially my kitty!
Spend time outside. Sit outside, go on a walk, go on a hike, drive somewhere pretty, go to a park with a friend... wherever it is or whatever it is - GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. Don't isolate even when you want to - nature is such an important connection to happiness.
Get out in the sun! The sun is good for you whether you're laying on the beach or doing yoga outside. For me, my mood brightens from the suns warming positivity.
BODY
Breathe. I know you think you do this all the time, and you're not wrong. But I mean REALLY breathe. Check-in with yourself often and make sure you're taking the time to take full, deep breaths.
Take a walk every day. Whether it's around the block or to a destination, promise yourself a walk. Keep those legs moving! Think of it as self care for your legs and body to move at an average pace at least once a day.
Do yoga! I'm not just saying this because I am a yoga instructor. Yoga truly helps you - even if you only do it once in a while. It's a surreal experience to repair your relationship with your body through movement and breathing. It truly helps you come into your fullest and most powerful self.
Make healthier choices within your daily diet. Minor changes are NOT MINOR. I am a picky eater and this is something I know I need to improve on. I'm hoping through blogging I improve this area of my life and use this as a home for me to write about my journey into discovering more food. There are SO many choices of foods in the world. Life is too short to eat the same unhealthy things each day.
Drink more water. I am positive I am not the first to tell you this one... Our bodies are made up of 80% water. If that doesn't prove its importance, then I don't know what will. We need water to survive and thrive.
Reduce your daily caffeine intake. I am guilty on this one - I definitely drink too much caffeine. Not only does a high caffeine intake mean heightened anxiety, but it can effect your sleep schedule in numerous ways - and as I said above - WE NEED OUR SLEEP.
Get a massage. Someone told me to do this once when I was feeling stressed... I'm forever thankful! I think we can all agree that it feels nice to be pampered every once in a while. Our body also needs to be smoothed out from our rough and bumpy day to day lives. Think about how much your body does each day; the LEAST it deserves is a massage every once in a while.
Get a manicure or pedicure. Doesn't matter if you're a man or woman, we all have hands and we all have nails. Take care of them from time to time. The feeling of leaving a salon with fresh nails is incomparable!
Create a daily skin routine. Not only will your skin thank you later, but this is just a healthy habit in general to have mastered. Find what products work best for you and stick to it! I promise myself at least one mud mask and one sheet mask a week. I wash my face every morning and night. Those are the only things I promise myself - create your goals to be realistic to what you know you're capable of!
Rest - Even if you sometimes don't agree, your body needs REST. Listen to your body. When you're tired, lay down. Even if you don't sleep, sometimes your body craves to lay down and take a break from life for a few minutes! I know I am definitely someone who forgets to do this more often than I should... taking a minute for YOU is never a bad idea.
SOUL
Breathe - I will say it time and time again. BREATHING IS KEY. THE BREATH DOES MAGICAL THINGS TO EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE.
Find peace through prayer/spirituality – Prayer, whether it be to God or a higher power of ANY kind, brings clarity to your soul. It's helpful to find faith in a power bigger than yourself. It relieves stress while also promoting a positive and purposeful outlook on life.
Be grateful. Gratitude goes hand in hand with having a higher power, and gratitude is truly medicine for the soul. Being thankful for the things you HAVE naturally brings a deeper appreciation towards your life. While improving both mental and physical health, Gratitude brings a whirlwind of positive emotions. Forgiveness is also close by – learning to let go and forgive comes when you are grateful for the world around you.
Be kind to yourself first. If I have learned one thing over these last few years, it is that YOU should always come first. At the end of the day, no matter what, you will be left with yourself. You better make sure that relationship is mastered before trying to tackle any others!
Do something for someone else. There is such a beauty in helping others. The rewarding feeling given to your heart when you do things out of the kindness of your soul is something indescribable.
Read inspiring quotes. Look up quotes that resonate with you. Reading things that you can relate to automatically helps because you don't feel as alone regarding what you may be going through. Print some out, draw some on paper, or write it in your phone. Positive sayings are always something good to have at hand.
Listen to uplifting music. Music can help describe feelings that cannot be said sometimes in words. Sing it out, dance it out... act like no one is watching! Whether it be an uplifting and positive song or an upsetting one you want to scream at the top of your lungs, LET IT OUT.
Remove toxic people from your life. This one always sounds easier said than done. Sometimes the closest relationships to you are the most toxic, causing drama in your every day life. It can be a hard pill to swallow, but once the negativity is removed you will feel so much better. A weight will be lifted off of your shoulders!
Be intentional with everything you do. Don't just got through the motions of life. Take your time with things. Get things done right and efficiently. Avoid drama, you don't need to be brought into any negative space. Stay around people who lift you up, not bring you down. Be aware of what you are doing and who you are doing it with. Re-evaluate how intentional you are being when things start to feel "unbalanced" or just off in general.
Talk to a therapist. This is a HUGE one. As a Capricorn, I like to do things myself. I like to process emotions alone, I want to do things independently, and I hate asking for help. Is this realistic? NO. Having a therapist who you are comfortable with and that you confide in is IMPERATIVE. In my opinion, everyone should have a therapist - ESPECIALLY after the year we just had. Keep trying until you find the right fit. If you aren't comfortable with someone, don't hesitate to keep looking!
I am ecstatic to share my thoughts with you all beyond the mat. I hope you all enjoyed this first little blog post - serving as a guide to all things self-care! Message me or email me if you have any topics you would like me to cover in future posts. I look forward to connecting with you all here on a deeper level!
