Preparing for Spring: Curating your Wellness Routine to Avoid Overwhelm
Spring is a season for hopefulness, new growth, and renewed energy to take on our personal wellness goals. There are more opportunities to engage with the outdoors and move our bodies, lighter foods are in season, and sunshine can be the ultimate mood booster. Many begin to reconnect with their tried and true wellness-supporting habits, while others dive in to new research, ideas, and trends.
The global wellness market is worth trillions of dollars and as we know, there is a tremendous amount of information to be consumed! Wellness overwhelm can happen easily. Below are some tips for curating a wellness routine that is realistic and enjoyable.
Accept that you can’t do it all. Whether you’re trying to alleviate symptoms of a specific health concern or are just challenging yourself with wellness and longevity practices, there is simply too much out there for one person to try all at once.
Simplify your habits and routines and prioritize quality over quantity. When we try to do too much, not only can the associated stress have a negative impact on our well-being, but we wash out the effectiveness by not being able to give each practice a focused effort. Avoid doing too much to get a good sense of which practices are contributing to which outcomes.
Limit the quantity and frequency with which you consume wellness-related books, blogs, and podcasts. Take a pause when you begin to feel overloaded or stressed out. Balance your information intake with actions that allow for the output of energy - move, play, create, teach others.
Ask yourself why you’re engaging in a particular practice. If your answer is because it’s substantially helpful, enjoyable, or causing you to feel good about the long-term benefits, then do it! If your answer is “because I think I should,” or because someone you know finds it helpful, then you may benefit from taking a closer look.
Be aware of the many contradictions in the wellness world and tailor your research around your specific body and needs. Always check with a qualified health professional if you’re unsure about the safety of a particular practice, food, or supplement.
Try to conceptualize each new practice as an experiment. Some will work and some will not. Your happiness and quality of life don’t have to hinge on the outcome each time you try something new.
Choose practices that allow you to enjoy the process. Long term benefits become a bonus and a lack of long term results isn’t as big of a disappointment because you’ve gained value along the way.
Remember that life is about balance between pleasure and discipline. Balance doesn’t always mean meeting perfectly in the middle. Sometimes we’re ready for a challenge and other times, we need to allow ourselves to choose easy. Listen to your body and mind about what you need in the moment. Seasons change and so will your needs.
Work with a coach to help you navigate the wellness world and settle on a routine that works for you and your life. A coach can also support you through working on related needs including self-esteem, stress management, and habit change.
When life takes over and wellness starts to feel stressful, remember the “grandma principles” - eat food from the earth, move your body, and enjoy yourself.
* As with any wellness tips, please consider your individual health as you are preparing to implement any changes. If you’re unsure, do some research and seek the advice of a qualified medical professional.