National Wellness Month in August honours all things healthy and thoughtful. Here are some suggestions to help you meet your wellness needs this month.
National Wellness Month
Clients have recently expressed to us how worn out and depleted they feel this summer, especially with the heat at times. As the summer break approaches and the end of the school year draws near, it appears that our bodies are exhausted. With the help of this blog, you may quickly and effectively regain your vitality as we celebrate National Wellness Month!
What is 'wellness'?
The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as 'the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.'
This was included in numerous units on my undergraduate university course, so I was intrigued to see that there are many components to what is considered "wellness." Our entire "wellness" is influenced by a variety of factors, including mental, physical, spiritual, social, intellectual, and emotional factors.
Why not concentrate on one dimension every day this month and see how you feel after a week? The following suggestions are only a handful of many created to include many aspects of wellbeing.
#1: Get your sleep
Sleep deprivation may be harmful to our physical, mental, and cognitive well-being. The optimum amount of sleep each day is eight hours, but studies show that as we get older, we only receive around 6-7 hours of good sleep.
(mentalhealth.org)
Lack of sleep has behavioural effects that alter how we behave every day, according to studies. Reduced alertness and focus as well as an uptick in mood swings 3 are all symptoms. The other five aspects of wellbeing will be impacted as a whole by this.
In addition to environmental variables like light and noise, hormone modulation in our body also affects how well we sleep. Our bodies' circadian rhythm makes sure that melatonin is released to regulate our sleep patterns when the light in our environment decreases.
There are techniques to aid with this and things you can do to help you have a restful night's sleep, which will help you feel better overall. As the blue light generated from digital displays tricks our bodies into believing it is sunlight, making sure you avoid them before bed will assist your body fall asleep easily.
A wonderful approach to enjoy in restful sleep is with aromatherapy. Try using some essential oils, such as lavender or chamomile, on your pillow, in a diffuser, or just before you wish to go asleep by taking a few deep breaths. Exercising during the day will also lead to a better night's sleep later on as well as releasing those endorphins.
#2: Move More
Continuing from the last tip, it's critical to move your body every day. Exercise maintains your body's mobility, builds muscle, and improves your mood whether it's a quick walk around the house or a two-mile marathon.
Exercise has been shown to improve your 'physical' dimension of wellbeing by reducing your risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer!
Not only that, but it will also reduce blood pressure since the heart can pump more blood around the body with less effort, assisting with mental health concerns like despair and anxiety through the production of endorphins (as previously discussed). For those of you who work from home and are confined to the same place all day, it also serves as a fantastic break! Exercise must be on your to-do list if you want to improve your personal wellbeing, even if you just have five minutes to run around the garden.
#3: Treat Yourself
It's no secret that we rarely prioritise ourselves or give ourselves the credit we deserve in our hectic life. Even less frequently do we use the time we do have on ourselves; instead, it is generally spent on kids, household tasks, or getting ahead on that additional presentation or meeting you are anxious about. A wellness priority, taking time off is just as crucial as all of these things.
To improve your spiritual wellbeing, read a book, listen to music, take a bath, or do some yoga. Consider a hobby or pastime that you enjoy but rarely get to do. Make a note of all the items on your "to-do" list that are clogging up your mind. They are ranked in priority by number. Can you identify any free periods when you might be able to take a 30-minute break as you go through the list? There will probably be something that can wait, so put yourself on the list of priorities instead! When it comes to self-care, therapists have counselled how crucial it is to be self-centered; prioritise your happiness and well-being.
Another thing to keep in mind is to use the nearby companies for self-care. If dining out is a delight, patronise your neighbourhood eatery! Shop around at your neighbourhood stores if you enjoy retail therapy. Why not go somewhere that provides services like massages if you want to improve your spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness? By stimulating your neurological system and easing physical stress in your body, massage helps you feel peaceful and relaxed.
The Body Therapist is the ideal location to unwind and take the time you need, offering a variety of wellness services! Even after you've spent time with us, we're here to speak, listen, and inspire you to keep up your wellness efforts.
If there is anything to be learned from this book, it is that 'wellness' does not always equate to perpetual health, happiness, or glamour. Instead, it involves knowing how important it is to spend your time fulfilling at least one of your dimensions.