Wellbeing is more than the food on our plate

Our wellbeing is more than simply the food on our plate.

It’s a holistic health puzzle with all areas coming together to create a life where you thrive and feel full of energy.

Now, before we dive in, I don’t want this to create more overwhelm in our lives as I can already hear the comments of “I have to consider how many things?!”.

All of these pieces are connected, they affect each other, but also work together. Often when we create change and create healthy habits in one area another benefits as well.

So with that said. Let’s dive in to 10 areas of our wellbeing:

1. Food & Water –

Ok yes, food is a big part of our overall wellbeing so it makes sense to start here. Eating mostly whole foods and drinking plenty of fresh water will help improve your energy, mood, and overall health.

If this is an area where you struggle start small. Try swapping out your usually snack of biscuits to a healthier version of a handful of nuts or fruit. With water, carry a water bottle with you wherever you go and keep a bottle on your desk while you’re working.

2. Movement –

Move your body every single day. It doesn’t matter what you do, just move as much as possible.

This can be as simple as 10min strength exercises or HIIT first thing. Using your daily commute to add in walking, taking the stairs or working at a stand up desk. If you struggle with fitting in an hour of exercise a day during the week, save that session for the weekend and consider small movement throughout your weekdays instead.

3. Sleep –

Sleep gives our bodies time to rejuvenate, heal, rest, detox and restore. Most people need 7-9 hours per night. This may sound a lot but I promise you that your body and mind will benefit from it the next day.

Try creating a night time routine. Something where you wind down and switch off. This could be stretching, meditation or journaling. Turn off all screens at least an hour before (2 hours if you can).

4. Meditation –

Many studies have now shown how affective meditation and mindfulness practices can be helping to reduce stress, have better sleep, improve focus, self-awareness and emotional health to name a few of the benefits.

Find the things that bring you a sense of calm and do them daily. This might include not only meditation, but also yoga, breath work, gardening and time out in nature.

5. Spirituality –

A daily spiritual practice refers to any ritual that we perform each day to nurture our deep inner being. Those who are spiritually healthy tend to know their path and are authentically themselves. Key signs of spiritual health include exploring your own sense of purpose and meaning, having compassion for others, feeling fulfilment each day and connecting to self.

A daily meditation, yoga or journaling practice can all be ways to explore your own spirituality and connect with your deeper self.

6. Purpose –

This can be your career but also time spent in your community and with your family. Your purpose makes you feel truly fulfilled and like you’re contributing, that what you do has meaning to the people around you.

Try journaling about things in your life where you feel most fulfilled. Does your work leave you feeling energised and align with your authentic self?

7. Connection –

When talking about connection, I’m referring to a partner, your family, friends and community. We feel the need to relate to others in order to feel worthy and to feel that we belong. We are social creatures. The relationships we form with others are vital to our mental and emotional wellbeing.

Try reaching out to an old friend this week. Perhaps someone who you haven’t spoken to in a while but it always fills you up when you do.

8. Finances –

Having healthy finances contributes to our overall wellbeing. It provides us with the stability we need to feel secure. Financial stress over the long term can cause anxiety, depression, affect our sleep and our relationships.

The first step to strong financial wellbeing is self-awareness. Take a look at your current finances and where you’d like to be in the future to create a plan.

9. Learning & Growth –

Learning new skills, personal development, reading, trying a new hobby, these all do wonders for our intellectual health. Learning new things can also open our minds, keeps us curious and discovering new things. It’s amazing how much you’ll learn about yourself and others in the process.

Do you have something that you’re currently learning? Perhaps it’s a new skill to help you at work, with your finances or in your relationship? Try listing out things you’d like to learn. Pick one and schedule in time in your diary.

10. Environment –

It’s estimated that we’re now spending 90% of our time indoors and studies show that our environments affect our overall wellbeing and happiness. As we spend most of our time at home and work these are the two areas to really focus on. Ideally, we want them to be spaces that inspire and rejuvenate us.

Starting with your home, have a look around your space. How do you feel when you spend time there? Organising our space is a pretty good place to start. Are there things that are no longer serving you that you could pass on?

“Self-awareness is the start of our wellness.”

There’s your physical wellbeing which tends to be the first place people start. But also your mental and emotional wellbeing, social, financial and spiritual. All connect and contribute to your overall feelings of wellness.

To start, it’s often helpful to consider each area and think about how you feel. Are there things you’d like to improve or change?