August is National Wellness Month - a perfect time to focus on taking care of yourself
physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s important to make self-care, healthy eating, and
stress management a priority in order to feel better than ever! Make it a goal to try one of
these 8 ways to boost your wellness each day.
- Exercise. Just 30 minutes of exercise per day can be a major mood-booster. It benefits
your mental health and in addition, it keeps you at a healthy weight, gives you more energy,
and assists with pain management.
- Drink more water. Hydration is so important for your body, especially during these hot
summer months. Water is the key to digestion, clearer skin, and even weight loss!
- Spend time outside. Fresh air can do a mind and body good. Spending time in nature can
improve your memory, lower your blood pressure, and boost your mood.
- Practice deep breathing. Stress and anxiety can impact your breathing without you even
realizing it, causing you to take shallow breaths, or even holding your breath for a period of
time, causing your body to tense-up. Practicing deep breathing techniques, and
concentrating on breathing from your diaphragm, can make a big difference.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep is a huge factor in our mental and physical well-being. Getting an
adequate amount of sleep each night helps keep your weight in check, your risk of
depression and anxiety low, your memory sharp, your immune system strong, and so much
more.
- Take a social media break. With information constantly being thrown at us via social
media, it’s important that we take time each day to disconnect from technology in order to
boost our mental and physical health. Aim to put your phone away one hour before bedtime
to allow your brain to wind-down before falling asleep.
- Call a friend or family member. Friends and family play a huge role in our mental health,
and social connection can be an instant mood-booster.
- Cut back on sugar and load up on fruits and veggies. The average American consumes 22
teaspoons of sugar each day, and much of it is hidden in things like salad dressings and
coffee creamer. Sugar depletes your energy and makes you feel tired and grumpy. If you
have a sweet tooth, satisfy it by swapping your sugary sweets for peaches or blueberries.
Your body and mind will thank you for it!