A Simple Plan for Your Wellness Journey

In this relentless pursuit of joy, one thing is abundantly clear; you need to create space for wellness, for self-care. Let me say that one more time, you NEED to create space for wellness. Focusing on self-care could literally save your life. Let me take a step back. Our mental and physical state influences our mindset every day, we all know that. As we navigate the challenges of life, our wellness is the armor and the force we all need. Whether you are relaxing on a beach basking in the sunshine, or sitting for a stressful exam in a stale conference room, your body knows and it responds. In a previous post I shared the different chemicals that the body releases under stress and under joy, take a peek. I am personally working on building rigor and discipline around self-care. Here are the three things I am focusing on right now;

1.      Movement. Movement is medicine, I am sure that you have heard this phrase before, and it is very true. Our bodies are our instruments. They are the vessel by which we experience our lives and you only get one. You must take care of it. You must cherish it, fuel it properly, and you must keep it in motion. A sedentary lifestyle will lead to health challenges, both physical and mental. Movement is medicine, no matter how small that movement is. Like Dory says, “just keep swimming”.

2.      Nutrition. Our bodies are truly amazing. Your body has the ability to do things you cannot even fathom. To function fully, to realize its full potential, your body requires healthy nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Being mindful of what you put into your body will help to guide your choices. Give your body the power it needs to be amazing and strong.

3.      ZZZZZZZs. Good sleep can do miracles. It can help your body to heal, help your mind to reset, it refreshes your perspective and gives you new energy for a new day. A goal here, create a nighttime routine that helps your mind and body to wind down. Set a bed time, turn off devices, including televisions (white noise is a big help if you are used to having the TV on for background noise, this has helped my hubby immensely), get all of your nighttime self-care done before your bedtime, practice deep breathing or meditation, wear comfy clothing and get yourself into bed. Some things that have helped me over the years; lavender essential oil on my pillow, super cozy pajamas, melatonin and clean sheets (I know the clean sheets one is silly, but it is true, I love getting into bed with clean sheets…I am certain I am not alone).

Ok, here is a simple plan if you want to give this a go with me. Right now, write down how you are feeling, jot down your energy level, capture what your mindset is; are you feeling stressed or worried, are you anxious about something, are you feeling exhausted, are you feeling happy, etc. Then, for two days…TWO DAYS, you can do just about anything for two days, make small changes in the three areas above. Just try it, for two days practice more mindful self-care. After two days, do the same exercise; write down how your feeling, mindset, etc. Do you notice a difference? How does it feel different? Maybe carry this test out through the end of the week, five more days. Then repeat the exercise again. How are you feeling? Where is your mindset? Imagine if you implemented small changes over the course of a year! A whole year with more mindful self-care, what would you do differently? What might you accomplish? How might your relationships change? WOW!! Let's elevate our self-care game!

Please share you journey with me, I am so excited to learn how small changes can influence our life. Email me at thejwordwithJenn@outlook.com