WELLNESS FIRST
The Importance of Wellness
I’ve worked in the wellness space for years and it has shown me how people prioritize their life and more specifically their health and fitness. Wellness is important and needs to be a priority.
There is nothing more important to wellness than your physical and mental health.
It’s like what the flight attendant tells you when you’re flying: if something happens, put your own oxygen mask on first. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else. You have to prioritize your wellness or there is no quality of life–for either you or your loved ones.
I have friends that tell me they don’t have time for the gym after work because they have to get home to their little ones. Since I’m not a mom, though, I definitely can’t tell a mom what to do! Still, my argument is always that people who are in good physical shape not only live longer, but have a better quality of life day to day. Your kids won’t miss the 30 minutes now when they get 10 years more with you at the end of your life.
Putting your mental and physical health first is how you invest in wellness and your future.
Don’t wait until you have back pain to do Pilates. Don’t wait until the doctor wants to put you on cholesterol medications, do cardio now. I have met many seniors who tell me they wish they had started working out earlier in life but none who regret the time they spent exercising.
Besides not having the time for fitness, people say they don’t have the money.
When we go on a budget, it’s usually the gym membership, personal trainer, or studio package that’s the first thing to go. I always find it odd that someone gets their nails done like clockwork but can’t afford to work out. I know that everyone’s priorities are different and you can’t tell people how to spend their money, but there are affordable options everywhere depending on what type of exercise works for you.
The best exercise plan is one you will stick to.
Sure, I have my opinion that everybody should do Pilates, but really what matters is that you enjoy your workout enough to be consistent. Movement is important and so is consistency. Ten minutes of something you will stick to five days a week is better than an hour workout you hate and quit after a few weeks.
Which brings me to another common excuse, time. It takes time to build a habit, so find just five minutes. Take five minutes from scrolling or Netflix. Go to sleep earlier so you can get up before the house is awake, or have your gym clothes in your car for after work. Get moving on your lunch break. Involve the whole family to get moving. Now more than ever there are so many exercise apps that are affordable and have ten-minute workouts.
Fitness isn’t just about physical well-being. It’s also about our mental or psychological fitness.
The pandemic brought mental health to light, but there is still a stigma with taking meds for mental health or having any mental health problems. I hope that we can continue to make it easier for people to talk about mental health without judging others. You never know what someone else is going through.
Mindfulness and meditation are some of the best tools to help you focus on your breathing, clear your mind, and improve your headspace.
I recommend the apps Insight Timer, Headspace, or even free yoga and meditation classes on YouTube.
Research says that it takes about 21 days to form a new habit or break an old one. Starting with a two-minute meditation and a ten-minute walk is better than never starting.
Moving your body releases endorphins that help your sense of well-being and mental health. This is the kind of reinforcement we can rely on to keep us going. If there are hiccups along the way, be kind to yourself, that is part of mental health. If today is day one for you, take a moment, make a commitment to yourself and then do the best you can.
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