Wellness Simplified: How to Direct Your Own Health

What does wellness mean to you?

If you take a moment to think about your health goals and your optimal well-being—without the influence of social media or the weight of outside opinions—when do you actually feel like your best self? What does that entail for you?

It is important to remember that your version of wellness will change based on your season of life, your career, and your body. Instead of writing a blog post with specific wellness advice, I wrote one with guidelines on how to decide what works for you.

Wellness is the practice of daily, consistent habits that improve and maintain your physical and mental health. It is the shift from simply "getting through the day" to consciously taking actions that help you thrive rather than just survive.

While wellness habits differ from person to person, the foundation remains the same. Here are the essential pillars to help you build a lifestyle focused on optimal health.

1. Physical Well-being

Physical health is the engine that allows you to live the life you want.

• Nourishment over Restriction: Instead of focusing on what to cut out, focus on what to add in. Food is fuel; it provides the energy your body needs to perform. Practice mindfulness by noticing how you feel after certain meals. Prioritize whole foods, stay hydrated, and learn to listen to your body's natural hunger cues.
• Purposeful Movement: Your fitness routine should match your goals. For many, the goal is "functional longevity"—being mobile, independent, and pain-free into old age. This requires a balance of strength, mobility, stretching, and aerobic exercise. If your job is desk-bound, prioritize movement breaks throughout the day. If sport plays a bigger role in your life and you are training for a specific sport, your routine will naturally become more specialized. Make sure to take care of your body, such as maintaining sessions with body work therapists, such as your biokineticist, physiotherapist, chiropractor or therapeutic massage therapists.

2. Mental Well-being

Your headspace determines how you navigate challenges and appreciate successes.

• Awareness & Mindfulness: Be aware of your thoughts and how they affect your mood. Whether through journaling, meditation, or a simple daily check-in, practicing awareness allows you to stay grounded.
• The Growth Mindset: Cultivating a growth mindset is essential for continued learning. It allows you to re-evaluate your values and change methods that may no longer be working for you.
• Healthy Relationships: The quality of your connections deeply impacts your vitality. Choose your inner circle wisely, and don't be afraid to set boundaries where they are needed.

3. Zest for Life

True wellness includes the things that make life worth living.

• Creativity & Flow: Finding time for things you love is not a luxury; it's a necessity. Engaging in creative hobbies helps you unwind, develops problem-solving skills, and allows you to enter a "flow state" where stress fades away.
• Community: We are social creatures. Having a sense of belonging and a reliable support system provides a safety net for your mental and emotional health.

4. Rest & Recovery

Rest is not "doing nothing"—it is an active requirement for health.

• Intentional Recovery: High performance requires high-quality rest. Prioritise intentional downtime that allows you to recharge, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated rather than just "distracted."

Directing Your Health

Wellness does not require a total life overhaul. It requires a series of small, intentional choices. By focusing on these foundations, you stop reacting to your health and start directing it.

The goal is to create habits and environments that support the person you want to become.

What is one small choice you can make today to start directing your wellness?