How To Build A Personalized Wellness Routine

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“Wellness encompasses a healthy body, a sound mind, and a tranquil spirit. Enjoy the journey as you strive for wellness.” – Laurette Gagnon Beaulieu

It seems that there are no shortcuts, no maps, and no rules in personalized wellness. It also can’t be done overnight. It takes a lot of small steps and constantly making better choices that align with your unique goals. Maybe yoga works for one person but not another; or some people don’t like to meditate in traditional ways. And that’s okay! We can’t all achieve wellness in the same way because we all have unique preferences. There are endless ways to move your body, and meditation doesn’t look the same for everyone.

Even if the usual wellness tips don’t work for you, it’s important to figure out what your needs are and how you can take small actions to fulfill them — making you a happier and healthier person.  Building a personal wellness routine for yourself isn’t about fads; it’s about looking inward, identifying your personal needs, and finding practices that work for you. Here is my advice for building your own daily personal wellness routine.

SEE ALSO: Mindful Nutrition That Is Nourishing & Sustainable

Listen to Your Body

“Your body holds deep wisdom. Trust in it. Learn from it. Nourish it. Watch your life transform and be healthy.” – Bella Bleue

When you don’t feel well, your body is likely trying to send you a signal. But it’s tough to hear the messages our bodies are sending us because we’ve been conditioned to treat any symptoms with quick fixes instead of investigating the root cause.

Three easy ways to tune in to your body include taking a moment of pause before reaching for the quick fix; using your five senses to notice the signals your body is sending you; and trying complementary therapies like massage or aromatherapy. You could also take another approach. Knowing your blood type and your Ayurveda body type can open doors to a plethora of information on your body’s needs and preferences. Some naturopathic doctors believe your blood type can actually tell you a lot about the nutrition your body craves and the workouts that are right for you. Knowing your blood type and the type of food you metabolize most efficiently, and the type of workouts that will produce optimal results for your body can take much of the legwork out of your wellness journey.

For example, blood Type A is believed to have descended from ancient farmers, who experienced a lot of activity in their daily routines, but it was more slow and methodical than others. So if you have blood Type A, you might benefit from tai chi, yoga, and pilates more than running or weightlifting. On the other hand, blood Type O is said to descend from hunter-gatherers, and they might prefer a more intense and athletic workout. Additionally, the 5,000+ year-old system of medicine called Ayurveda uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing to help balance the body and its many systems constantly at work. There are three body types in Ayurveda: vata, pitta, and kapha. Learning your dominant type will help you understand your specific needs through diet and exercise to achieve a healthy balance.

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Listening to your body, either through meditation, learning your body type, or by other means, can help you determine what your specific wellness needs and preferences are. You might find that your body is in need of the right nourishment; your mind is in need of a calm space to reflect; or you’re feeling the need for some spiritual rebalancing. Once you have your wellness needs or goals pinned down, it’s easier to form a routine of daily wellness rituals.

Building Your Routine

Any aspect of wellness can usually be put into three categories: mind, body, and soul. Or you might break wellness up into categories such as nutrition, movement, and spirituality. However you cut it, there is an endless number of ways you can focus on your wellness, improve how you feel, and become a happier and healthier person. But as mentioned before, wellness isn’t achieved overnight; it’s practiced over time with small changes and choices you have to make every day. Once you know what you’re working towards, you can create a list of options to choose from every day.

Your personal wellness routine might look like a 20-minute daily meditation, a yoga routine three times a week, adding a new plant-based meal to your weekly meal plan or any combination of actions that get you closer to feeling well and balanced. Here is a list of examples to consider:

• Take a short nap or sleep in.
• Take a bubble bath.
• Take a walk.
• Practice yoga at home.
• Try a new fitness class.
• Add a new plant-based recipe to your meal plan.
• Spend a few minutes every day meditating.
• Start journaling.
• Take an evening walk.
• Schedule an at-home spa night.
• Drink warm lemon water every morning.
• Drink a soothing tea in the evenings.
• Get up and stretch every hour.
• Start a reading habit.
• Make your bed every morning.
• Practice breathing techniques.
• Do an act of kindness for yourself every day.

Now just remember that wellness isn’t achieved overnight, and never beat yourself up, because it’s all a journey. Don’t compare your progress to others and keep working at your daily wellness practice, even if you fall off track once in a while.

Don’t Forget the Small Stuff

A big part of your overall well-being is about your physical health — from your eyesight to your digestive system, it’s all connected. Most of your daily wellness routine activities will help support a healthy body, but some things require a little extra attention. If you feel your eyesight declining as you age, this is totally normal but should be addressed with your doctor. But aside from regular wellness checkups with your doctor, there are still some practices you can incorporate into your daily wellness routine to help improve your eye health. Keep these tips in mind:

• Healthy nutrition supports healthy eyes just like it supports health in every aspect of your body.
• Eye exercises can be just as important as any other form of physical activity.
• Sun protection is essential for healthy skin and eyes so wear your sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Give your eyes a break from screens every other hour, especially if you work on computers.
• Don’t forget to schedule your regular screenings.

Likewise, any physical issues you’re experiencing should be addressed with your doctor, along with practicing your new daily wellness routine. Wellness is personal, so your practice should be as unique as you are. Unfortunately, there are no road maps to wellness. You just have to learn to listen to your body, find out what you need, and keep making daily choices that bring you closer to optimal wellness.