What do you think of when you hear ‘wellness’?
We think of body trust. Of rest. Of movement that makes us feel incredible.
However, a lot of the popular ‘wellness’ vernacular thrown around these days is code for DIETING. And, as we’ve discussed many times before, dieting and true wellness do not at all go together.
So, it stands to reason we should work to pursue wellness outside of diets, but where do we even start?
Define what wellness means to you: Society has a blanket definition of wellness, but it does not take individual experience into account. So, really sit down and think: what does wellness mean to you? What would your optimal wellness look like? How can you realistically set pillars in place in life to get closer to that optimal wellness?
Remember that wellness has MANY pillars: we’re programmed to think wellness is simply dependent on nutrition and exercise, but that isn’t even the HALF of it. In order to pursue actual, full wellness, we also have to take into account things like: sleep, mental health, social status, financial status, and more.
Work on your Relationship with Food: Society’s relationship with food as a whole is, well, NOT aligned with wellness. We put so much emphasis on morality when it comes to food that we end up increasing our stress and anxiety levels a fair amount. Try really working on and developing a healthy, neutral relationship with food instead.
Set Some Boundaries: One of the core facets of wellness? BOUNDARIES! You know how much we love boundaries, right? Figuring out what you will and will not allow into your life and STICKING to it - it’s a magical feeling.
True wellness exists outside of diets and diet culture, not in addition to it. So, start here!