August is National Wellness Month, and it is a reminder that while our health is influenced by factors like access to healthcare, affordable nutritious food, and safe places to live and exercise, the everyday choices within our control can still make a meaningful difference.
Our lives get busy, and healthy habits can easily take a back seat to everything competing for our attention. Wellness includes physical, mental, emotional health, and financial well-being. Each of these areas affects how we feel, handle stress, and move through our daily lives. The good news is that improving our wellness doesn’t require an overhaul of our daily routines or spending money on expensive products. Small changes can make a meaningful difference over time when we prioritize our well-being. Prioritizing ourselves is one of the most important investments we can make on our long-term health.
🤔 Did you know?
- About 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep and insufficient sleep is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, reduced memory and concentration, and depression.
- Women who ate nutritiously, stayed physically active, didn’t smoke and drank alcohol in moderation, had a 54% lower risk of developing chronic disease than women who did not follow those habits.
Small changes might look like:
🚗 Parking a little farther from the entrance for a longer walk
👣 Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
😴 Going to bed 30 minutes earlier
🩺 Scheduling a check-up and remember, asking a loved one to go with us is okay, too.
👥 Spending time with friends or family
❤️ Pause before saying “yes” to another commitment if it means putting our own well-being last.
🚰 Drink one more glass of water
🔋 Step away from the phone for a few minutes to recharge
We spend so much time planning ahead and taking care of the things that matter to us, but our health also deserves that same care. Remember that wellness isn’t defined by one action, but rather the healthy habits we do over time. We don’t have to wait for a new month, or a New Year’s resolution to make a change. This National Wellness Month, know that every small step we take today is an investment in our future health.
Wellness looks different for everyone. So, what’s one small change you’ll make to prioritize yourself this month?
