When was the last time you felt well?
The term ‘wellness’ or state of wellbeing means something different to everyone depending on core values and beliefs. Personally, I believe a person’s state of wellness can be a marker to determine their quality of life.
Wellness can be identified through categories such as physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing. According to Pfizer, wellness is defined as “the act of practising healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, you’re thriving (Pfizer, 2022).”
How to improve your wellness
From changing up your lifestyle habits, to what you’re eating, how you spend your time and the people you surround yourself with there are lots of things you can do to improve your wellness.
Look at your lifestyle
A 10 year follow up study found that people who quit smoking, increased their daily exercise and intake of fruit and vegetables showed a significant improvement in psychological well being compared to their counterparts who didn’t (Sapranaviciute-Zabazlajeva, et al., 2022). Some lifestyle factors worth addressing are how much sleep you get, what habits you have (e.g. drinking or smoking), how often you exercise and get outside, who you spend your time around, is your work good for you and do you do things that make you happy.
You are what you eat
This saying couldn’t be truer, the food you fill your body with has a massive impact on your wellbeing. Eating a nourishing and balanced diet full of the nutrients that your body needs to thrive improves your wellbeing for a number of reasons:
- It makes sure everything runs smoothly so you aren’t in discomfort
- It keeps you strong and healthy
- It keeps you feeling energised
- It keeps your body producing the hormones that make you happy, relaxed and enjoy the most out of life
Add in some food hacks
There are some great super foods available that can have a massive impact on your wellbeing by increasing your energy, improving your mood and supporting a healthy digestion and immunity. Some of these are:
- Ginseng, a root used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to improve overall wellbeing through enhancing energy and mood, its antioxidant properties and reducing inflammation.
- Cruciferous vegetables, think of all the leafy greens from broccoli to spinach! These vegetables contain health benefits that support all the body’s systems.
- Berries are a great superfood full of antioxidants to help fight away any dangerous cells, boost brain power, strengthen immunity and keep you regular with their high fibre.
- Extra virgin olive oil is another superfood that’s been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory benefits! From promoting brain health, supporting healthy skin, aiding in weight loss and many other benefits; this superfood is a great contribution to wellness.
Nourish your brain with good habits
Taking a preventative approach to looking after your mental health is a key factor in ensuring and increasing wellness. Some great practices that you can add into your daily routine include journalling, meditation, seeing a psychologist and doing activities that use the creativity part of your brain.
Well, well, wellness
The reality is, maintaining your wellness is a year round task that requires daily attention and consistency. Unfortunately most don’t realise that their wellness is lacking until they are in the deep end after months of neglecting their health and wellbeing. Taking regular steps to prioritise your physical, mental and spiritual well being is the best way to feel your best!
References
Pfizer, (2022). What is wellness? Accessed on 11/09/22, <https://www.pfizer.com/health-wellness/wellness/what-is-wellness>
Sapranaviciute-Zabazlajeva, L., Sileikiene, L., Luksiene, D. et al. (2022). Lifestyle factors and psychological well-being: 10-year follow-up study in Lithuanian urban population. BMC Public Health 22, 1011. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13413-4
