Over time there’s been an increase in awareness and acceptance of how health and wellness practices are an integral part of our mental, emotional and physical well-being. Advocating for taking charge of our needs has gradually become a welcomed (even celebrated) social norm; with discussions and actions around health being more openly explored than ever before.
But we still have a long way to go.
Stigma around prioritizing personal care, whether it comes from internal or external projections of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination continues to exist (particularly towards those with mental health conditions). Through sharing the wellness practices that recognize the importance of our holistic health and well-being; we expand the ability of society to regard individuals as a whole person comprised of the physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual — all of which will need caring for at various points in our life. What was once deemed selfish or superfluous is progressively being seen as nuanced and necessary.
In the minds of consumers, “wellness” now encompasses a whole lot more than just being in shape. It’s reducing stress. It’s feeling confident. It’s finding a sense of community and belonging. It spans mental, physical, and spiritual dimensions—and consumers actually prioritized mental wellness above them all. | 2022 Wellness Index – MindBody
Part of enjoying full autonomy over our health includes the normalization of choices, actions and habits that form part of our individual wellness journey. While the variety and scope of these practices change over time — (hopefully) becoming more extensive as society learns how to better understand and protect our well-being needs — there’s frequent pushback against expansive, innovative concepts. An example of this is how the importance of self-care has become more universally acknowledged (and studied); leaving behind the notion that it’s conceited or inessential.
As our knowledge about physical and emotional well-being broadens, standards of care shift from idealistic to realistic; enriching the lives of more and more people who regard their health as an investment (which it is; probably the best one we’ll ever make). Championing what can establish better mental and/or physical health remains a way to end stigma, raise awareness and transform how we approach taking care of ourselves and each other.
Here are some examples of the wellness practices we should normalize and support …
Setting and Respecting Boundaries
As guidelines and principles used to communicate how we wish to be treated and interacted with; setting personal boundaries allows us to determine which actions, behaviours and situations we will/will not accept. They encourage our ability to thrive by valuing what clearly helps us maintain physical and emotional safety.
Working On Compassionate Inner Dialogue
Whether we catch ourselves doing it or notice it in other people; interrupting belittling, stressed/anxious or negative self-talk that diminishes belief in our own potential/abilities is key to building confidence and making positive changes in life.
Useful Article | Overcoming Negative Self-Talk – Mayo Clinic
Regular Health Check-Ups
If healthcare services are accessible and this is an option, don’t wait for illness or issues to arise before you see a doctor; go in for a general health and wellness assessment even when everything seems fine. It’s a straightforward and effective way to maintain our well-being and detect any health concerns before they potentially become more serious.
Useful Article | What To Do When You Need To See A Doctor But Don’t Have Insurance – Talk to Mira
Going To Therapy
Whether it’s to manage a mental health diagnosis, cope with a significant life event or navigate a challenging situation, there are many reasons to see a professional counselor — it’s not solely for times of crisis (although it’s beneficial for that too). Working through life’s difficulties in a healthy and productive way can require periodic support and guidance; finding the right therapist can do just that.
Useful Article | 9 Best Free and Affordable Online Therapists – HealthLine
Reclaiming Our Time
Being able to relax and decompress is all important; even if it’s only for a few minutes each day. Setting aside time for ourselves can help relieve feeling physically and emotionally drained and improve brain function, memory, decision making and our ability to cope with day-to-day stresses — prioritizing ways to refresh our mind, body and spirit is an empowering part of self-care.
Talking About Our Mental and Physical Health
One of the best ways to end stigma and discrimination about certain health conditions is to talk about them. Being open to sharing our experiences can help other people gain insight (and hopefully empathy) into what we deal with; it also indicates to those experiencing something similar they’re not alone. There’s more power in that than we may realize. Making a difference doesn’t require a large-scale platform; it starts with those in our inner circle.
Celebrating Ourselves
It’s easy to appreciate the big moments or significant achievements in life — we often place great value in measurable success — but there’s meaningful purpose in also recognizing everyday accomplishments. Comparison can sometimes lead us to believe that we’re not doing as well as others, or we ‘should have’ attained and experienced more. The truth is, falling into this kind of thinking is often more fruitful at producing a sense of defeat than it is at igniting purposeful change within us. Signal boosting all the ways in which we triumph will look different from time-to-time; but don’t underestimate the importance of cheering yourself on even when life appears to have slowed down or become submerged by challenges. Make a point of celebrating the small stuff, no matter what it is.
This is by no means an exhaustive list; there are many ways to take charge of our mind, body and spirit that deserve encouragement and acceptance. As with any personal journey we undertake, focusing on our wellness starts with us being candid and bold — that’s as good a place as any to start.
What other health and wellness practices should we normalize? How do you maintain your well-being?
Further Info:
The Future of Health – Healthline
transatlantic | notes 
These are awesome things to consider. Boundaries and mental health are two things I realized quite late in life and I hope with blogs like these more people learn these things sooner. Thank you for sharing!
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I came to these things later in life too so it’s great to be able to share their benefits with others. Thank you for reading!
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I love all the tips you share especially ‘celebrating ourselves’ which I tend to not observe as I should, and obviously another big one setting boundaries were initially you might feel a bit guilty, but these are effective. Thanks for sharing
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I struggle with a number of these too; it takes work but we’ll get there!
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These are so important to focus on to live a healthy life. Especially setting boundaries, which is something I struggle with.
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I struggle with setting boundaries too but when they are in place they have been so beneficial. Keep at it!
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‘Comparison can sometimes lead us to believe that we’re not doing as well as others, or we ‘should have’ attained and experienced more.’
This paragraph leaped out at me because I often feel like I should have achieved more.
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I sometimes have real bouts of comparison and it has never been helpful or helped me move forward with purpose. You’re not alone in feeling this way; and know that it’s not always an accurate reflection of what we have come through.
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I think therapy is very important in taking good care of yourself. I’ve found that talking about things can help take the weight off. I also think a new pair of eyes and an objective mind can help shift focus from a negative one to a better one. This is a great post x
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I think you’re so right with the benefits here; I think sometimes the best thing a therapist can do is shift our perceptions in a more productive way. Thanks for sharing this!
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So insightful…thank you for sharing this
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I appreciate you reading!
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What a great article , I think working on that compassionate inner dialogue is something many of us struggle with. Thanks for sharing!
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I agree; it’s so common to have negative self-talk that I think many of us don’t realize we do it!
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Good reminder to always take care of yourself. I have more recently made sure I go to the doctor, working out, and taking mental health days. Its been nice getting to stop for a moment and de-stress.
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I think it’s great you’re doing this; working on taking care of our well-being is vital as it impacts every aspect of our lives.
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These are some really great points about what practices we should do more of. Setting boundaries is something I have been working on. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren.
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Boundaries are hugely important (and something I came late to realizing just how useful they were) — keep working at them!
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Yes to going to therapy! I went to therapy when I was suffering really bad with my mental illness but I wish I could go all the time. I think everyone would benefit from therapy.
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Therapy helped me when I went (this was a long time ago but it was so impactful) that I hope more and more people feel comfortable and supported accessing this resource.
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So true! These are good health and wellness practices that we should do everyday. I wish Malay people are well aware of no.1. Not many Malay people respect other’s privacy.
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I hope that all of these practices (and more) become normalized and supported; it’s so important for all of our well-being (especially respecting privacy and boundaries). Thanks for reading!
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This is a great list Molly. I only discovered some of these things las I got older because of old thinking that we need to please others and put others first. But I know this can lead to suppressed emotions and mental health issues. It’s difficult, but sometimes you have to be selfish to feel good again. Even if it affects those around you. Great post. Thanks for sharing. Jade MumLifeandMe
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I understand this; it’s such a shame that many of us come late to these realizations but at least once we do we can make the most of taking care of ourselves.
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I love the positivity in this article.
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Thank you!
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These are very useful tips.
Many a time we do not focus on personal care and later on it leads to health issues, be it physical or emotional.
Having a personal care routine is very important for one’s overall wellbeing.
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You’re exactly right; it’s all too often we don’t realize the impact not caring for ourselves will have (I’ve experienced health issues because of this). Thanks for reading!
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Amazing
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Thanks!
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These are all important and nurturing practices that can help us lead a happier and healthier life. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks for stopping by to read!
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