February: Choosing Wellness.

The Oxford Dictionary definition of “Wellness” is:  A condition obtained when a person achieves a level of health that minimizes the chances of becoming ill. I am not convinced that the absence of sickness (whether it be physical or mental) is the best way to describe feeling well.

I like this definition far better (found on the Pfizer website as a result of a google search): Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, you're thriving.

There is so much that makes sense in this definition. Wellness is certainly a practice – and one that rewards you for repeating positive habits. Once you’ve decided on a positive wellness behaviour, all you need to do is choose to repeat that behaviour as a practice, and then trust in the magic of time to accumulate the benefits for you. Instead of not being ill – you can move along the spectrum of being, and most importantly feeling, really well.

There are many areas of your wellness that you can select small achievable practices in, and over time, build on these to make them more robust and beneficial.

1.     Nutrition: Being mindful about what you choose to eat – is the food in a pure and non-processed form, and can your body use it to give you energy, clarity and strength?

2.     Movement: Choosing to move in a way that benefits your body and mind – be it sport, gym, dance, or walking.

3.     Sleep: Setting up positive sleep habits to ensure that you get 7 to 8 hours a night; and wake up rested and ready.

4.     Mindfulness: Finding a mindfulness practice that works well for you, be it meditation, breathing, yoga, journaling, or a gratitude practice. Finding a way to be more “present” has multiple benefits.

5.     Spirituality: Exploring your spirituality and connectedness through reading, prayer, giving, or time in nature.

6.     Relationships: Spending some time in the company of like-minded others, and steering away from those who detract from you. Bringing your “well” self to these interactions has positive spin-offs for everybody.

7.     Growth: Choosing to learn more about what interests you and using this for benefit in your career, or simply for your own personal enjoyment.

8.     Editing: Finding ways to reduce or remove habits that detract from your personal wellness. What hinders you? It could be scrolling, alcohol, pessimism, over-eating, judging, too much sitting, etc.

Wellness is a highly personal affair, and there is huge power in putting your own practice together. No need to overthink or over-research it. Just begin it. Start with one, small positive habit in each of the areas above. Pick your practice, persevere, and appreciate the wellness that results… from your chosen actions.