7 Wellness Tips That Won't Overwhelm

Last weekend, I drove one of my sons to sleepaway camp (tears!) and on my way back I listened to some podcasts. One of those was by a wellness influencer who went through her “get-ready-for-the-summer” wellness routine and though I got some good tips, I left completely overwhelmed.

Don’t get me wrong – I do quite a few of the same things, but not nearly to the same extent (hours and hours of exercise daily). One of the first things I looked up when I got home was her profile because surely there was no way she could have kids! There is no way I could lie in a sauna blanket with red light therapy on my face an hour before bed each day without my children crawling all over me 😊 (although the process sounds amazing).

I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with a well-executed and very long wellness plan – I’m just saying that my health and fitness routines have changed throughout the years to meet my lifestyle and whatever phase of life I am in that time. In my current phase, I exercise, prioritize sleep and take the time for good nutrition. And while I make an effort to get my steps in every day, I don’t beat myself up for not going to the gym 5 days a week. It’s especially hard to do with the changing schedules of summer, working, and managing the activities of three boys.  

Here are some things I do:

 1.      Make good coffee. I did not realize how many toxins and chemicals were in my coffee. Since coffee is something I drink every day, I’ve made an effort to find a good one (favorite is here!).

2.      I DO get my steps in most days. My handy Oura ring helps me track this and I aim to get 8,000-10,000 steps each day. I take the stairs, I park further away at the store, I try to go for a 2-3 mile walk after dinner or before the kids wake up – it’s also amazing how many steps you can get in while doing chores around the house (just saying)!

3.      I sleep. On the subject of Oura ring (not an ad, I just love it!) – I used to wake up exhausted every day. I still do sometimes. As we age, our sleep quality diminishes which is why we have to make a concerted effort to prioritize our bedtime routine and other habits that help. Looking at my oura ring stats every day help me see what kind of sleep that I get and also help me pay attention to the amount of REM and deep sleep that I receive (which has a huge impact for the readiness the next day).

4.      I do Kirtan Kriya. When I need to recenter and practice mindfulness, I often turn to this form which has shown to promote brain activity (and can fight against Alzheimers!).

5.      I hydrate. Drinking enough water is an easy way to promote energy, good skin and overall well-being! Take it a step further by using a reusable glass water bottle or investing in a good water filter.

6.      Connect to your passion. I take ten minutes or so every day to connect to something that brings me joy. This could be writing an article, journaling or even playing a round of ping-pong with my son.

7.      I have a skincare routine. This is my self-care and I really enjoy the ritual of cleansing, moisturizing and pampering my skin every day.

The point of self-care and wellness is to find the things that work for you and to build habits around that! Wellness should not be a chore or another “to-do”. It should be something that elevates our mental and physical state and pushes us towards the person we want to be.