5 Things That Changed My Life & Improved My Wellness
Finding a wellness routine that works for you takes time, patience and really getting in tune with what you need (but don’t let that deter you…anything worth having takes time!) We’re ever evolving, from our schedules to our preferences and our lifestyle. So it’s important to remember - something that worked for you 5 years ago might not serve you anymore (ie. HIIT workouts for me). And that’s ok!
So today I wanted to share the 5 things that have completely changed my life for the better, hoping you might find some inspiration to enhance your well-being.
Know that these things have been years in the making - I never want people to feel discouraged thinking “I don’t have time for that” or “I don’t have the strength for that.” I can assure you that when you prioritize you, you will have the time and the strength…or whatever it takes for you to feel your best.
I’m going to share these in the order in which I implemented them and roughly how long the process took to see results. I want to be honest and realistic with where I was and where I am today, thanks to these 5 practices.
01. Functional Medicine
I go into this some on my about page but Functional Medicine (specifically at Green Circle Wellness) was my first real “aha moment” when it came to health. If you’re not familiar with Functional Medicine, it’s all about getting to the root cause…which has ultimately become part of how I view life in general. What is actually causing this? How can we get to the bottom of this instead of covering up the symptoms? I originally got to Functional Medicine because of unresolved skin issues I was having, only to find out I had an array of other problems (gut dysbiosis, low cortisol, and a ton of food sensitivities…to name a few!)
It took at least a year, if not more, to get things in a better place. But to get things running optimally probably took closer to 4+ years (I’ll get to why, later in this post). The initial results though were still life-changing - less bloating and fatigue, my skin rashes / breakouts were gone, many of my food sensitivities resolved, my mood improved, and even my period cramps went away. I never realized how physically and mentally uncomfortable I was until I made some lifestyle adjustments and was able to see things more clearly. This was my first step into feeling different (in a good way) and started me on the path I’m on now.
02. Consistent Routines
I know we’ve all been bombarded with morning and evening routines on social media in the last few years…and as much as we may be sick of them, I’m glad this became a popular topic. This is the perfect area of life where a little can go a long way.
It can be overwhelming when you see people’s morning routines that seem lengthy and unattainable…and maybe even include things that don’t interest you. These look different for everyone. We are all different people after all! Even carving out 5 minutes each morning to do something that fills you up - walk around the block, stretch, journal, deep breathing, dance - can make a profound difference in your life.
When I moved two and a half years ago, it felt like a good time to start making some changes that might improve my mental health (I’m a natural worrier and it’s not fun!) So I started waking up a little earlier to have some moments of peace in the morning, instead of just going right into my work day. I now look forward to waking up every day (making it easier to get out of bed). I feel grateful and more at peace. I now have more motivation and energy to give by starting the day on a high note.
Mimi Bouchard of Superhuman (my favorite meditation app) says: “Your mornings create your days, your days create your weeks, your weeks create your months, your months create your years and your years create your life.” Let that sink in, and repeat that to yourself next time you say you don’t have time. We all have 5 minutes in a day to set aside for ourselves.
My mornings and evenings always include petting my dogs (first thing I do before I wake up and last thing I do before bed) *cue dopamine hit.* I just love taking a few minutes to be really present with them, especially as they get older (cherishing every moment while I can). I then do my skincare routine…something I’ve enjoyed since high school (yes I have had a skincare routine that long - I love a good pamper and I won’t apologize). I try to go outside as soon as I can to set my circadian rhythm and get that morning light (not always easy to do in Chicago though) and take my dogs on a short walk. I love a good habit stack as I get light and movement while my dogs get some exercise all in about 10 minutes. Everyone wins! Then I meditate for 10-15 minutes and I’m onto my day. This takes about 30 minutes all in. Sometimes I have more time so I might do a longer walk or meditation. If I have less time, I’ll shorten something. But these are the little things that fill me up and go a long way. So I do what I can to prioritize them so I feel my best. When I’m my best self, it only benefits the people around me.
03. Meditation
The answer no one wants to hear! Please know - I was one of those people who didn’t want to hear it either. I get it! Whenever people would tell me to meditate I would say “I can’t sit still” or “I can’t turn my brain off.” I never thought I, the girl who sometimes has to read a paragraph 4 times to retain the information due to an ever-wandering mind, would be able to sit and meditate.
This was one particular practice I first implemented when I was going through a difficult time about 7 years ago. Although it helped, I didn’t end up sticking with it as it was just too challenging (I was also trying to do 30 minute meditations which I would not recommend for a beginner). Then once I committed to a morning routine when I moved, I wanted to try meditating again. This time with a goal of 5 minutes a day - start small (as we do in coaching). I started to see the initial benefits of feeling more calm in about 3 months and as time went on, they just kept rolling in. After 6 months, I felt more compassionate towards myself and others. After a year, I felt way more clarity than I ever have (this led me to coaching and wellness education). And now about 2.5 years later, I’ve reaped all these benefits plus a very strong relationship with myself (more on that shortly!)
I also believe this is what pushed my gut health over the edge (in a good way) where food only took me so far. I could talk about the gut-brain axis for hours but if you’re interested in learning more, Brain Maker is a great book / resource for this information. Functional Medicine got me to a good place. What I learned from that experience + meditation got me to a great place.
04. Strength Training
I went from being a studio fitness junkie to mat pilates only during Covid and now I found my groove with mostly strength training (+ a sprinkle of yoga or pilates in-between). Like many women, I thought I would “get bulky” if I lifted heavy weights so I avoided it (who started this rumor anyway??)
Strength training was recommended to me by a few practitioners over the years as I was having some really uncomfortable back stiffness. I eventually listened and good thing I did - it has changed so much for me both mentally and physically. Honestly my favorite part about it is that I can listen to my own music. I was getting pretty sick of the remixed top 40 hits in studio classes so the fact that I can do something on my own time with my own playlist that makes me feel super strong sounds like a win. I can really concentrate on my form and get in the zone, which was difficult to do in classes where I felt rushed. It changed the way my body looked, giving me definition (without the bulk!) in ways other types of exercise did not. It’s also ingrained in us as women to “do cardio” to “be thin.” I’ve always hated cardio and it’s not fun to force yourself to do something you don’t like to do on a regular basis. The mental clarity and strength I get from lifting weights is unmatched. My back feels better, I have more energy and I get this “me time” that fuels my mind, body and soul.
A lot of people do not like to exercise and I feel you. I hated on exercise for YEARS. This area never came naturally to me so it just took lots of trial and experimentation over time. The first time I tried yoga I did not care for it. I tried it again 4 years later and loved it. I used to live for studio cycling and now you can’t pay me to get on one of those bikes. Lesson here is to be open minded, try new things and know - something that doesn’t resonate with you now may serve you in the future (so don’t write it off forever).
05. Strengthening The Relationship With Myself
This is something I never set out to do…it sort of just happened. But it happened because of these practices I have in place that I’ve shared with you today. I have a greater connection with my body because of functional medicine and strength training and a better relationship with my mind due to my consistent routines (that I actually enjoy doing) which includes meditation.
The culmination of taking care of me made me love myself in a way I never thought possible. And this is where I believe true effortless wellness comes into play. It may not feel effortless in the beginning but once you have that strong foundation with yourself, you want to continue to do things that fill you up, not tear you down. How you speak to yourself has a huge impact on your mental and even your physical health. You can do all the “wellness things” but if you’re not kind to yourself, you will find a plateau and wonder why you’re still not feeling great. As Dr. Will Cole says “you can’t heal a body you hate.” This foundation is my secret sauce when it comes to coaching, so if you’re looking to explore this further, feel free to send me a message.
I can’t emphasize this enough - it may take some time to find the things that serve you and how to incorporate them into your busy life. We’re always looking for the quick fix, which almost never has long-term benefits. These 5 things have taken multiple months or even years to become part of my life. With the results I’ve experienced, I’d do it all over again. I hope you can find some inspiration to start incorporating just one thing into your day that’s just for you.
