The Wellness Resolution, or Maybe, a Theme for the New Year

We are over halfway through January, so how are those resolutions going? Are you over them already? Not started them? 

Have you considered changing your mindset? Instead of resolutions, think about the new year as a time to res-set your wellness goals. 

A few years ago, Psychology Today suggested making self-care-oriented alternatives. Step one was setting your intentions and then creating a theme. So, how about wellness as a theme this year? 

Defining Wellness

The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health. They suggest that it is not just your physical health, but it also includes:

• Physical

• Mental

• Emotional

• Spiritual

• Social

• Environmental

Mindfully Engaging

Several of these areas are enhanced by mindfulness. Taking the time to listen to your body and reduce stress is a big part of wellness. Being mindful of your body and listening to it will put you in the right mindset to make your new theme a success.

Ideas for mindfully dealing with stress:

• Take a break

• Listen to music

• Take a bath (or better yet, a spa bath)

• Take time to breathe and meditate

Physical Wellness

Once you are in the right mindset, it’s time to work on your physical wellness. Here are some ideas to add to your goals for the new year. 

1. Drink more water. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies recommends drinking 11 cups for adult women a day or 15 cups for men. Note that some of that fluid can come from foods rich in water and other beverages.  

2. Exercise more. I know, we all say this every year. But, maybe try thinking about it like this – just increase the number of steps you take by 2000 every day on average. After a month, you will have added 60,000 steps! 

Simple ideas for increasing your steps:

• Take the stairs at work or just go up and down the stairs in your house, 1-2 times more per day.

• Park a bit farther from the door.

• Do a little pacing. 

• Move while you talk on the phone or listen to a podcast or music.

• Find a walking buddy (human or animal will do).

For those of you in the Burnsville and Twin Cities, Minnesota area, there are many great paths and trails to walk to keep you healthy. We have a list for you to check out.

3. Stretch every day. Want to feel better and avoid injuries? Set a goal to stretch every day. A plus – it will help you avoid fatigue. We have a great list of easy stretches you can do in the morning, between Zoom calls, or while you are binging a streaming show. 

4. Get more sleep. If you are sleep deprived you won’t want to exercise; you will want to eat junk food; you will drink more caffeine; you will be moody…and the list goes on. Our bodies need restful sleep – it is key to our balance. 

We might suggest getting a fitness tracker that also tracks your sleep to help you understand how long you actually sleep, and what effects restful sleep. We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you evaluate your sleep. 

5. Get regular massages. Your muscles get sore. Your body stresses out. Massage is a natural relief for stress and anxiety. 

Massage is a natural extension of your mindfulness goal. Plus it will help your body heal and find relief after your added exercise. Check out more about the benefits of massage here. 

6. Make chiropractic care a part of your regular body check-ins. We cannot say it enough – regular chiropractic maintenance care is proven to help you maintain good posture, stay healthier, and have less pain. 

Are you ready to take your wellness goals to the next level? We would love to hear how you are doing when you come in for your next chiropractic and massage appointments. See you soon!

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash