10 Simple Wellness Tips to Start Your Summer Right

10 Simple Wellness Tips to Start Your Summer Right

 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines wellness as “the quality or state of being in good health, especially as an actively sought goal.” The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as “the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.”

It also goes into detail on the difference between wellness and well-being. Until reading this, I had often interchanged those words as if they were the same.

Why is wellness important? Here is a great article from Judy Molinaro on why health and wellness are important.  This is also referenced in the Global Wellness Institute article referenced above.

 

Why start now? As the saying goes, “Better late than never.”  It is never too late. You are not too old to change your health.

 

Keep in mind that what is ‘right’ for someone might not be ‘right’ for others. Each of us has our own lifestyle and health issues that may make things different for us than for others. In this Real Simple article, “10 Small, Healthy Things You Should Do for Yourself Every Day” there is a great list of things we should do for ourselves daily. Healthline has listed the top 10 tips for staying healthy.

These self-care tips are going to benefit our mental and physical health. Suddenly adding ten new things to your routine might be overwhelming, so add one new change every week or every other week until they become a regular part of your routine.

Taking care of yourself will benefit your whole family, and you are setting good health examples for kids who are watching everything you do. Ideas42.0rg lists 10 “micro behaviors” to keep your health goals on track.

These lists have some of the same things; those will be your priority items, which include that

1. It’s crucial to drink plenty of water

2. Prioritize sleep: good-quality sleep

3. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.

4. Eat more  fresh fruits and vegetables

Some items on each list are different, such as decreasing sugar,  watching alcohol intake, etc.

Get outside in nature. Use an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to prevent skin cancer.

Sit less and challenge yourself to take more steps. Decrease your screen time.

Practice mindfulness as well as daily gratitude.

Practice breathing exercises.

Stay connected socially and also take a few minutes to yourself each day and embrace the quiet.

Try to eat less processed food and more whole foods from scratch.

Eat slower, savor the taste, and give your body time to tell you when it is full. Listen to your body.

 

Make sure we are taking care of our mental health as well as our physical health

Make the most of the upcoming months by adding some of these healthy choices to prioritize your health and happiness in the coming months

Look at these lists and write down what you do to take care of yourself already. Next, make a list of the things you want to start doing. List them in order of priority, or which things you think may be easiest for you to add to your routines. Then plan each week to try to add one healthy self-care change.

Weekly may be too much too soon, It’s okay if you make a change each month instead. They say it takes 30 days to change a habit. Either way, do not give up on these goals. You deserve to feel better and know your body better than anyone else. You and only you can make sure it gets the care it needs