What is wellness?
This has been a question that I am struggling with myself! I thought I had a good understanding of what wellness is, but the more I delve into this area, the more I realize it can be quite vague, grey, and a bit overwhelming.
I could easily google wellness and get a generic definition of how it includes fitness, nutrition, self care. But what does that mean for me and for you? To help me navigate this vast terrain, I decided I am going to focus on the things that improve how I feel and make me happy. For me, that’s the benefit of wellness, how to break old habits and free oneself from the baggage we tend to hold onto. How do we set ourselves up for success to navigate the tough times that are a natural part of life? Life certainly is not perfect, no matter what you see in media or what’s presented to you from those around you in life. There are going to be tough times, sadness, illness, loss but how can we help ourselves to move forward in those times.
I can’t stress enough the importance of determining what works best for you, and not to allow the trends seen on social media to make you think you have to love them as well. There really is no perfect workout to get that ideal body. It’s all about finding what you enjoy, and with enjoyment you will make it a habit and remain consistent. That consistency will create a habit, and can lead into even more habits that will improve your overall wellness.
Before my diagnosis, I enjoyed a tough workout almost as a means to physically exert the stress out. I had to accept that my former mean of “self-care” is not the intensity that my post treatment body is ready to deal with. And that is ok, perhaps even a good thing. It gives the opportunity to try new things especially has I age. The importance of mobility and yoga, the joy a good long walk brings after a stressful meeting at work or disagreements with your loved ones. It doesn’t take much prep, a decent pair of sneakers, maybe a good playlist one foot in front of the other. Sometimes if I can’t make it outside, I'll get those steps right in my apartment! Just getting movement has such an impact on my mood throughout the day and allows me to center and find that joy in the little things. I started with daily walks again, that led me to feeling ready to pick up the weights again, and when I feel up to it go to the gym and just take those baby steps.
I won’t deny that the little annoying voice likes to come into my head and distract me with the goal of fitness and movement to look a certain way. It’s a struggle for everyone, but to remain consistent it helps to find another system of measure for progress. Maybe it’s 10-15 minutes a day, then 30, and so on. Maybe you track you distance or your pace over time. As your body gets stronger, your progress will improve, better habits will weave in, and the body will show your progress as well. It certainly takes some practice, and I am working on it myself. I’m envisioning the future me, that can walk faster and further and if the healthiest, happiest version of me and not what society says is the “norm” or current beauty “standard”. We have to take it easy on ourselves, and as I right this, I am saying it for myself to because I too am a work in progress. That’s ok, and that to me is what my wellness journey is.
