Last updated on December 1st, 2023 at 03:09 pm
Wellness is the consistent practice of holistic (mental, physical, financial, emotional, social, and psychological) lifestyle habits in order to live optimally and thrive.
It may appear to be the new kid on the block, the new trend, seemingly for certain kinds of people, regardless, everyone stands to benefit from intentional wellness. Most of life, unfortunately, is lived on autopilot; one day, we’re old and can’t even explain where the time went. The goal is to optimise our moments, our days, and our life. To be deliberate in every area of our life.
Here are some wellness habits that cost little to nothing and trust me when I say wellness doesn’t have to be about spending so much or flying to a certain wellness retreat centre.
Getting your daily sweat:
Out of the many ills that plague us as a collective, the sedentary lifestyle is the most pervasive, stealthily working its claws into different individuals. Getting your daily sweat doesn’t necessarily require a gym subscription. Some can do it for motivation, but many tales also indicate that a gym subscription doesn’t tally with the expected motivation.
As little as a thirty-minute walk can make all the difference. Committing thirty minutes to any form of movement that pleases you and gets your heart pumping is long-term helpful.
Read the perfect fitness routine for lazy girls
Talking to a friend:
Another wellness habit that costs little is talking or chatting to a friend. Whether it be when commuting to work or during a house chore, you can talk to a friend on the phone. It doesn’t always have to be a serious conversation, it can be light-hearted.
You know you’ve called the right person if you feel significantly better when you end the call.
Watching a lovely show:
Sometimes, a lovely show or movie on Netflix is the proper wind-down for the day or the good-feeling booster that you need. On this wellness journey, it’s important to make room for things, just because. You don’t need ten reasons to do every single thing.
Eating a nutritious meal:
A daily habit of eating a delicious and nutritious meal is not only satisfactory but obviously puts your health in a better place. When it comes to meals, think simple, less is more. You don’t have to add every single nutritious ingredient that you have to your meal.
Treating yourself:
This is a simple way of appreciating yourself. Your legs move you from one point to another; with your eyes, you perceive visual information; your immune system constantly strives to eliminate threats to your body; with your ears, you listen to good music; you show up for yourself even when you’re not so strong. And treating yourself is just a simple way to honour yourself.
If you can afford a spa session every now and then, that’s good. But since the focus is on letting you know that wellness habits don’t have to cost a lot, tea time could also be a simple way to treat yourself. You could also have a pamper routine which could simply be romanticising your wash day and carrying out every step as if you’re a princess.
Quality time with a loved one:
This is almost the same as talking or chatting to a friend. However, I think that seeing a loved one takes it a step further and they are two separate habits. Spending some time hanging out with a loved one is a form of social connection. In this case, pets count as loved ones.
Meditating:
Every single day, I meditate and it anchors me. When I ask myself why I do it, it takes skipping a day to get my answer. Lol. It doesn’t have to be you sitting with your legs crossed nor does it require an hour (certainly it’s not bad if you have the time). The tools of meditation are mindfulness, nonjudgement, and acceptance. Take your attention into your body, perceive your feelings, be aware of your thoughts without any judgement then accept whatever comes up fully. Sit on your balcony with a cup of tea and some quiet, and practice for ten minutes and you’re good. Create what works for you.
Reading a book/listen to a podcast:
One more wellness habit that won’t leave your purse empty is simply reading a book or listening to a podcast. Sometimes, I enjoy fiction because, at that moment, I can get lost in the pages of a book and only come out when I want. I struggle with podcasts except they are on YouTube so I can view every now and then. But like I say, you do you.
Writing a gratitude list:
A gratitude journal is a collection of your blessings. Before now, I used to have a gratitude session when I woke up and before bed when I list out things that I’m grateful for. Recently though, I got a journal, and every night, I write things that I’m grateful for. I consider this to be a better method. I know that when I look back at the end of the year, I’ll be more grateful to see how far I’ve come.
Updating your budget app:
I made a one-time payment for my budget app probably three years ago and that’s it. You don’t need something fancy. I used an Excel spreadsheet for many months before getting the budget app. Beyond the type of app you use is the need to track your income and expense. I consider it to be more effective on a daily basis because it’s easy to forget all your expenses a the end of the week.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. You know what works for you. But the aim of this is to let you know that you can always start (your wellness journey) where you are and with what you have.
Cheers to a life of beauty!
