How to Prioritize Your Health and Wellness

We all know we should prioritize health and wellness, but sometimes, it can be difficult. As busy moms, we tend to put everyone else’s needs before our own. It's important to remember that we can better care for our families. Here are a few tips for making your health and wellness a priority.

Identify your health and wellness goals.

Regarding your health and wellness, it's essential to set realistic expectations. Making lasting changes to your lifestyle takes time and effort. Be patient and give yourself credit for your progress.

Track your daily habits and review your results.

Habit tracking is a great way to see your progress and stay motivated. Tracking your progress allows you to see what's working and what isn't so you can modify your actions to meet your goals. There are several methods for tracking your habits. You can track your data digitally through popular apps such as MyFitnessPal and Streaks (only available on Apple iOs). You can also use a simple notebook or spreadsheet or print a habit tracker template to track your progress.

Whatever method you use, tracking your progress is vital to reaching your health and wellness goals. Just make sure to review your results regularly. But it's important to remember that you shouldn't get too discouraged if you slip up occasionally. Just get back on track and keep going. Making your health and wellness a priority is an ongoing process, and it takes time and effort to make lasting changes to your lifestyle. But it's worth it.

Build wellness activities into your daily routine.

One of the best ways to prioritize your health and wellness is to build wellness activities into your daily routine. These could include taking a brisk walk in the morning, meditating for 10 minutes before bed, or stretching after you wake up. Making these activities part of your daily routine will make you more likely to stick with them, and over time, they'll become second nature.

Make time for yourself.

It might seem counterintuitive, but you must make time to be your best self. Whether taking a yoga class, walking, or just taking a few minutes each day to meditate, it's essential to do something that brings you joy and relaxes you. When you make time for yourself, you can better handle whatever life throws.

Start with small habits.

Choose one or two goals to focus on and start with small, manageable changes. For example, if you want to eat healthier, add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. If you want to exercise more, start by walking around your neighborhood or try a beginner's exercise challenge {like my beginner 21-Day Diastasis Recti Challenge, which you can find here}. Small changes like these will help you slowly but surely reach your health and wellness goals.

Before you know it, those small changes will add up to significant results. Don’t make your wellness routine too challenging for your current lifestyle; remember, realistic goals require realistic habits. In my blog post, Healthy Habits, Create a Happy Life, you can read more about healthy habits and how to create them.

Schedule it - Pick a Day.

Choose a day of the week you will use as your self-care day, whatever that looks like. Like you would schedule an important meeting or doctor's appointment, put your wellness time in the calendar. Scheduling could mean an hour, 30 minutes, or even 10 minutes. But make sure it's time that you can realistically commit to blocking off the time in your calendar and set a reminder. Then, make sure to stick to your schedule. Just like you wouldn't cancel a meeting with your boss, don't cancel your wellness time.

Eat healthily and exercise.

This one is a no-brainer, but it's worth repeating. Eating nutritious foods and regular exercise helps your body physically and works wonders for your mental health. When you feel good physically, you're more likely to feel good mentally.

Get enough sleep.

Getting enough sleep is crucial for physical and mental health. Most adults need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night. If you need more rest, try establishing a bedtime routine or setting aside time each day to relax. Check out my post on the best exercises to end your day.

Align yourself with others who are interested in health and wellness.

You're more likely to succeed if you align yourself with others who are interested in the same thing. Join a gym or fitness class, sign up for a cooking class, or find a group of friends who share your interests. You'll likely stay motivated and on track when you surround yourself with like-minded people. You may even make some new friends while you are in the process. So, if you're looking to prioritize your health and wellness, take time to find others interested in the same thing. You may be surprised at how much easier it is to stick with your goals when you have the support of others. -Shameless plug to KMP Studio’s online community —a caring, supportive community of mothers on their health and wellness journey through pregnancy and postpartum.

Find inspiration. But don't compare.

If you're struggling to prioritize your health and wellness, it may help to find some inspiration. Inspiration can come from books or articles about health and wellness, listening to podcasts, or watching videos. You can also find inspiration by attending events or workshops related to health and wellness. Or by following people on social media who share your interests.

Avoid becoming envious of your inspiration, especially if you do not immediately see the changes you want. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when prioritizing your health and wellness is comparing your journey to others. Everyone is on a unique journey, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to health and wellness. What works for someone else may not work for you. And that's okay. The most important thing is finding what works for you and sticking with it. Keep going even if you don't see results right away. Just keep with it, and eventually, you'll see the benefits in your overall health and well-being.

Making your health and wellness a priority can seem daunting, but it's important to remember that when you take care of yourself, you can better take care of everything else. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that you're taking care of yourself in the best way possible.