Putting Your Wellness First

Being a woman in today's world is crazy. Stupid crazy hard. And yet, we get up every morning and show up. Sometimes all we can do is try — and that's good enough too. Some days can be so chaotic that you aren't even sure which hurdle to tackle first. So where in all this is wellness? Or self-care?

We all know that I SUCK at asking for help. It is so very hard for me. When I had my surgery, my friend had to DEMAND that I let her do a meal train for me while I was recovering. It was just so hard. I am usually the caregiver, so being on the receiving end was pretty foreign. When you are sick or just not yourself, asking for help is even harder.

Now that we have new intentions to set and new outlooks to target, let's talk about how to actually make wellness happen.

Say it with me: "I need help." "I need your support." "I need you."

Try any or all of them and do it as much as you can. Getting used to asking is a key factor. Practice asking for help in different ways and see what feels comfortable for you.

Let's say your intention is to be more active. Moving your body is not only helpful for your physical body — it's also healthy for your mind. It produces important hormones and chemicals like endorphins.

As Elle Woods of Legally Blonde famously said: "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy." Certain chemicals the body releases give you a kick, some energy, and a positive mental outlook. The more you increase your endorphins, the more long-term happy you make yourself.

Do what you can to move a little more every day:

• Do some stretches before you get out of bed in the morning
• Take a coffee break and walk a lap or two around your space
• If you can get moving for 20–30 minutes a day, you are doing great

I started walking during COVID and got pretty bored (ADD girl here), so I started challenging myself to run from one stop sign to the next, then walk again. After about 6 weeks, I could run a mile without stopping. My health, my sleeping, and my body all benefited.

If you're someone who is always trying to remember what you had on your agenda for the day, setting aside some time in the morning to organize yourself may be what you need.

You need a vision or intention statement. It might be a short-term or long-term goal you want to work on. It might be something about your productivity or a relationship you need to focus on. Spend your morning sorting out this goal and write it down somewhere. At different points throughout the day, check in on how things are going.

There are many ways to become more mindful. The idea is to try something and give it at least 3 weeks for it to stick.

Journaling is a great tool. Many people don't follow through because they think journaling has to be a long, drawn-out process. In reality, you can start by doing what I do: write a list of 3 things I am grateful for each day. Just a few sentences, then move on with your day.

If journaling isn't your thing, try:

• Going for a walk
• Working in your garden
• Grabbing an adult coloring book and some colored pencils
• Drawing mandalas (deeply meditative and calming)

Any activity can be mindful if you focus on doing one thing at a time. Yes, you ADDers — you have to focus on this one thing and try to push away all the other thoughts and distractions.

Having a "happy space" in your home or workspace is crucial to your wellness. My bedroom is my oasis, my sanctuary, my zen. I have all the things I need to soothe my body and soul:

• Lamps with low lighting
• A Himalayan sea salt lamp
• A diffuser with lavender ready to go
• No TV in my room
• Phone face-down while getting ready for bed

At work, I also have a sea salt lamp and diffuser. I have playlists for different times of the day — some upbeat, some to help me focus. I keep a tea kettle to make hot tea when I need a bit of comfort.

They say it takes three weeks to really get a habit to sink in, and three months for a lifestyle change to occur.

Being intentional and striving for your goals is a way to take care of yourself. If time is an issue, set an alarm on your phone and step outside for 10 minutes, or call a friend for a 5-minute chat. Even tiny baby steps toward your goals can be rewarding and help you shift your focus.

Don't put too much on your plate at once. Try one or two goals MAX and get those down pat before you move on to more. Happy wellness journey!

Need support building a wellness routine that actually sticks? Reach out to schedule a session — I'd love to help.