It’s never too late to prioritize a healthier lifestyle, especially if it results in a happier state of mind. According to Dr. Beth Pausic, Director of Behavioral Health at Hims & Hers, now is the perfect time to start your wellness routine if you want to achieve peace of mind and a healthy 2023.
“One of the best ways to get into a flow and regular wellness routine is to start it when you’re ready and committed,” Pausic explained, noting that the beginning of the year offers the perfect incentive to implement healthy and realistic habits as well as other positive lifestyle changes.
Need some extra help kickstarting your wellness routine? We spoke to a group of wellness experts to receive helpful insight on achieving our personal resolutions. We were surprised to know that creating an actionable wellness routine can be as simple as spending an afternoon outdoors, journaling, meditating, or taking a stroll.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Beth Pausic, Director of Behavioral Health at Hims & Hers
- Dr. Jonathan Leary, Founder of Remedy Place
- Craig Goldberg, Vibroacoustic Therapist and Co-Founder of inHarmony
How to create a wellness routine
According to Dr. Beth Pausic, the best place to start when creating a wellness routine is to set meaningful goals for what you want to change and achieve. She shared that setting yourself up for success is essential to making your goals manageable and reasonably achievable.
“Some examples of a wellness routine may include self-care, exercise, meditation, improving sleep, or changing your diet,” Pausic said. “When we think of wellness, it can feel like such a broad topic, so it’s important to define what it means for you. Ultimately, it’s up to you to find the activities or changes you need and want.”
Pausic strongly advised starting a wellness routine when you’re truly ready to make a life change. She noted that being unprepared will make it more challenging to commit long-term.
How to stay consistent
When you’re ready to embark on your wellness journey, Pausic recommended starting small and introducing new habits gradually. “Remind yourself that this is a marathon and not a sprint; these changes are ones you will keep in your daily or weekly routines.”
Pausic’s guide to consistency:
- Set your intention to commit to your new routine.
- Plan out the elements of your new approach in advance.
- Be flexible and change things that aren’t working.
- Remember that the changes should be incorporated into your life moving forward.
- Remind yourself that you may not feel or see benefits immediately.
- If you get discouraged, be mindful that it doesn’t equal failure.
- Setbacks can happen but focus on the success you’re making along the way.
Pausic reminded us not to rush to the end goal. Instead, make slow and steady changes that’ll continue to benefit you long-term.
Wellness activities to consider
Dr. Jonathan Leary, Founder of Remedy Place, provided an extensive list of beneficial activities to add to your regimen to help elevate your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Hydration
Hydration is one of the most straightforward foundational health tools that everyone can apply. Leary suggested drinking 1 liter of water per 50 pounds of body weight. If you’re consuming diuretics (coffee, tea, alcohol), he proposed increasing this intake. Additional water intake will help with aches and pains, digestion, sleep, and physical appearance.
“It’s crazy how something so simple is overlooked, yet [it’s] so significantly impactful when intaking the correct amount,” Leary said.
Cold showers
According to Leary, a cold shower will shift your morning, improve sleep, prepare you for your day, enhance your mental clarity, and give you the extra boost you may need to achieve your daily goals.
“Even if you hate the cold, it’s worth it because the benefits outweigh the initial stages of being uncomfortable,” he said.
Breathwork
A 10-minute breathwork routine can serve as a mental reset to achieve the goal of being present. “Finding this practice and doing it before my meditation has been one of the most powerful tools that has drastically helped me over the years,” Leary shared.
Visual manifestation meditation
Manifestation has seen a surge in popularity over the last couple of years. If you want to visualize your goals, Leary advised starting each morning by closing your eyes to imagine one resolution you want to manifest in your life.
“Close your eyes, focus on that one goal, and try to see what life looks like when that comes true,” he said. “Keep your eyes closed and don’t open them until you can visualize that goal … Sometimes it will be quick, and sometimes it may take some time. If it surpasses your time limit, shelf it and try again the next day.”
Intermittent fasting
According to Leary, intermittent fasting is a daily cleanse for the digestive tract that allows it to repair itself. Furthermore, it reduces inflammation, increases energy, regulates hormones, and provides a daily reset.
Keep in mind intermittent fasting isn’t for everyone. If you have any underlying conditions, you should consult with your doctor before trying this wellness trend.
The Takeaway
Craig Goldberg, a Vibroacoustic Therapist and the Co-Founder of inHarmony, added that one of the most important aspects of remaining consistent in your wellness routine is not getting discouraged if you miss a step. “Instead, be grateful that you get it done when you can,” he said.
Goldberg suggested creating a list of wellness activities you want to incorporate into your routine, printing it, and hanging it somewhere visible in your house, like the bathroom or kitchen, as a daily gentle reminder. When incorporating wellness activities into your daily routine, it’s critical to remember that your primary goal is to put your best foot forward.
“Begin to integrate one, two, or three of these items and see how you feel,” Goldberg said. “In my experience, you continue to do the things that feel good. I think everybody wants to feel better today than they did yesterday and better tomorrow than they did today. Adding these items to your wellness routine will help you do that.”
