What Does Wellness Mean and How Do You Get Started?
Wellness starts by listening to and learning about your mind and body. Without this insight, it’s impossible to know where to start and what aspect of wellness to focus on first.
Our culture is so focused on constantly doing and going. Sometimes we need to pause and rest.
Meditation doesn’t have to take a lot of time—try first setting a reminder or timer to take slow, deep breaths throughout the day. To try seated meditation, start with one to five minutes in a quiet space. Sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed and body relaxed but awake, and pay attention to your breath without changing it. When your mind wanders, bring your focus to your breathing. It may be uncomfortable or challenging at first. Be easy on yourself and just begin to watch your breath again.
What starts as a personal and intentional behavior can slowly start to infiltrate the rest of your life and it can even help improve interpersonal relationships.
It all starts from within.
Change Your Mindset About Physical Activity
Be gentle when it comes to physical activity. Think of it as movement. Movements can be as dramatic as an aerobics or dance class or as simple as stretches standing at your desk.
Adopt a playful approach to fitness. Make an effort just to move—go for a walk, even for 10 minutes. Challenge yourself to do 10 push-ups standing against the wall. Have fun with it. Taking care of yourself and your body first is crucial if you also want to take care of others.
Exploring Health Needs
Uncovering health priorities can be a great motivator for getting started. Beebe Health Coach Rita Karapurkar Williams, MA, CHES, uses a personal health wheel to help individuals identify their current state of wellness and describe their ideal state. The wheel considers all aspects of wellness—nutrition, exercise, emotional health, stress levels, and relationships.
“Our initial assessment helps raise self-awareness about your current state of health,” Rita says. “We use that to be intentional about how we work toward your future health goals.”