National Wellness Month 

Hey Village, August is National Wellness Month! This is an ideal time to prioritize overall health and well-being. This month encourages a holistic approach to self-care, recognizing that optimal health encompasses physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. It’s a reminder to address all aspects of health, as we often neglect certain areas in our daily lives. 

There are many different ways that we can take care of ourselves, even in the midst of our busy schedules. I believe that positive change can come from us being intentional about the choices that we make. Our health is interconnected, and there are many things that we encounter in our 

daily lives that can impact our health, in all its forms, and with awareness, we can do more to ensure that we experience positive health outcomes. So, let’s talk about it! 

Holistic Wellness: 

National Wellness Month emphasizes that true wellness involves taking care of the whole person. It’s not just about physical health, but also mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The concept of holistic wellness recognizes that each person is unique, with different needs and preferences. This encourages us to take an active role in our own health and wellness. 

Self-Care Focus: 

Beautiful people, it’s time for us to understand just how crucial the practice of self-care is to maintaining our overall health and wellness. It’s about proactively taking care of yourself to manage stress, improve mood, and enhance our quality of life. By incorporating self-care practices, we can reduce anxiety and depression, increase happiness, and build resilience to life’s challenges. It is vital that we realize that self-care is not a luxury village, but it is necessary

to help us rejuvenate our mind, body and spirit. This ensures that we will be able to show up for ourselves and the people around us. 

Addressing Neglect: 

Busy schedules can significantly impact health by leading to neglect of essential areas like proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mental well-being. This neglect can result in chronic stress, increased risk of physical ailments (such as cardiovascular problems and compromised immune function), and strained relationships. When we prioritize tasks over taking care of ourselves, it can create unhealthy habits that can be difficult to break. While we live in a society that pressures us to stay busy, making more time for activities like mindfulness, meditation, and hobbies that we enjoy, are ways that we can address neglect and promote positive health outcomes. 

Key Activities and Ideas to Consider: 

Social Media Cleanse: Taking a break from social media can improve sleep, reduce stress, and enhance relationships. 

Connecting with Loved Ones: Reaching out to friends and family can boost social well-being. 

Mindfulness Practices: Activities like deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can promote mental clarity and reduce stress. 

Healthy Eating: Focusing on balanced meals and healthy snacks can improve physical health.

Regular Exercise: Engaging in physical activity can improve both physical and mental health.

Prioritizing Sleep: Adequate sleep is crucial for physical and mental restoration. 

Wellness in the Workplace: Employers can promote wellness initiatives like flexible work hours, encouraging breaks, and offering wellness programs.

Individualized Approach: 

It’s important to remember that wellness looks different for everyone. We can personalize our health care to take into account our unique genetic profiles, medical history, our lifestyles and preferences when we think about the strategies that we would like to implement in our lives so that we can maintain and improve our health and wellness. 

Prioritizing wellness can lead to improved physical health, reduced stress, increased happiness, and a better overall quality of life. 

Here’s to brighter days!