Use Wellness Month to examine health
Before we leave the days of summer behind, I’d like us to do some fun things with our families and take a little extra time for ourselves.
August is Wellness Month, and focuses on taking care of ourselves, managing our stress and promoting routines that establish a healthy lifestyle. We all know that when we take care of ourselves, we are happier and able to strongly support our family and employer. Sometimes, we fall away from the practices that make a difference in life because we get busy, or we lose the priority in our schedule.
So, what is it that we can do to take better care of ourselves? What have you done this week that would be considered advancing wellness? Some of you may say I took a walk or read a book or maybe even enjoyed some ice cream with the family. Our mental and emotional health is so important especially after journeying through the last couple of years. Setting an example with your family is laying the foundation for life and giving them permission to set aside time for themselves. I encourage you to select a couple of options that resonate with you, and you will stick to as you further your own personal wellness.
More:Questions and answers as food canning season approaches
Self-care starts with some basics: good sleep, good nutrition, regular exercise and doing something that brings us joy. We all have different ways to manage our stress either through meditation, exercise, or my favorite, taking a horseback ride. These are areas we must address to in order to be our best and take care of those we love.
The National Council for Mental Wellness offers these five things to improve our self-care with our family:
Practice good nutrition by eating more fruit, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Fresh produce is available in abundance right now, take advantage of it. Spend some time in the kitchen with all family members and have meaningful conversations, those are important at all ages!
Set a time aside for the family to do something together, take a walk, play outside or go swimming. We know that being active will help to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Make it a challenge to get 7,000-10,000 steps every day and celebrate when it’s accomplished.
After a long day at work or school, it’s tempting to engage in solitude, but it’s so important to spend time together as a family doing things that everyone enjoys. Make a list of these and work to incorporate those several times a week. When school starts, the activities may need to be a little shorter, but prioritize family time without electronics, unless they are used to reach out to other family members and friends.
We all need a good night’s sleep and having a routine will help our children and ourselves to accomplish it, (National Sleep Foundation). Setting the expectations for the evening will help everyone to get a good night’s rest with fewer bedtime battles.
Finding someone to share your day with is important. Sometimes that can be a family member as we prepare or enjoy supper, or it may be a friend who can lend a supportive ear with insight. Helping our kids talk about their feelings is important, but just as important is what to do with those feelings and how to overcome the challenges of the day. Practicing gratitude is essential to providing a positive outlook in life and learning how to overcome the things that don’t go as expected. Life skills can be imparted with this strategy, and everyone can grow and learn from the outcomes.
These are not new concepts, but they are so common sense that sometimes, we forget the importance of them. They don’t cost a lot of money, but they do require an investment of time. As we approach the closing of the summer season, I challenge all of us to strive to practice self-care with revived passion and savor the joy in the journey.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Take time to assess overall wellness
