So much of living a healthy and happy life is rooted in our daily choices. Many times it boils down to knowing our ultimate wellness goal and intentionally choosing the small habits that will get us one step closer. One workout, one “healthy” meal, one night of “good sleep” won’t really do the trick. Consistency is key.

For myself, 2023’s big central theme is living a healthy and happy life through the daily habits I create around wellness and my well-being. And because this goal of my is truly meant to be the beginning of a lifestyle shift, I had to start small with sustainable habits that wouldn’t leave me feeling overwhelmed.

Today I’m sharing those daily wellness habits and the areas I’ve started to focus on to truly feel healthy and happy in my day-to-day. Many, I’m sure you’ve already heard of, but as I mentioned, this is about building a sustainable wellness routine that ultimately becomes a lifestyle.

Opt for nutrient-dense foods

Food is fuel and choosing nutrient-dense foods can be a simple shift if we don’t overthink it. Something I found helpful when researching swaps I could make, was focusing on a few foods I ate often and how I could intentionally choose better options for my body and health that fit my budget. I looked at the cooking oils I was using, the amount of fruits and vegetables I was eating, the beverages I was consuming, what I could switch to organic or grass-fed, and went from there. There’s no need to go out and overhaul your groceries. Do a bit of research and start with the foods you love and eat the most and find the best “better-for-you” options. Once you get the ball rolling and create better habits surrounding those foods, you can slowly look at other areas of your diet and build a food “wardrobe” catered to your needs and likes.

Move and stretch your body

I find so much gratitude in the ability to move my body and exercise – it’s a choice I get to make every day and I don’t take it for granted. Long are the days I thought exercising meant a minimum one hour at the gym and leaving dripping in sweat. These days, it’s more about honoring my body in whatever state it’s in and working with my energy levels, not against them. A lot of this has to do with cycle syncing (tailoring your workouts to the menstrual phase you’re in), something I’ll be chatting more about in later posts.

Incorporating daily movement – whether a walk, a stretch, a barre class, or a ride on my peloton bike – really helps me feel confident and happy in my body. As much as it’s a physical thing, it’s also (more importantly) a mental thing and a recharge for myself.

To make time for this, every Sunday, I take a look at the week ahead and plan out what pockets of time I can allocate to workouts. I’ll put it on the calendar like a very important doctor’s appointment and I don’t miss it for anything other than an emergency. With toddlers and just general busyness, I have found this to be the only way to intentionally move my body daily.

Prioritize good, quality sleep

This one is a challenge for me with young kids (and I’m sure many of you can relate). Grueling jobs and on-the-go lifestyles will undoubtably mess with our sleep as well. But it truly makes a difference for our well-being when sleep is prioritized. And if we’re honest with ourselves, sometimes our lack of sleep is self-inflicted (hi scrolling endlessly on social media).

I’ll be doing a more in-depth nighttime routine post soon but having a routine that sets you up for a better night’s sleep can really be a game-changer. Having set boundaries and habits like no phone after 9 p.m., dimming the lights (lamp o’clock anyone?), and perhaps making yourself a nighttime drink (I love this magnesium powder), can really help your internal clock know it’s time to wind down.

Take inventory of your mental and emotional health

Checking in regularly (preferably daily) with ourselves is a simple habit most of us struggle with – I certainly do. But there’s a reason daily journaling is touted as a big wellness tip for this very reason. It can give you the avenue to explore any underlying feelings you might be pushing aside. Any time I take out my journal, I uncover a feeling or thought I didn’t particularly know I was so hung up on. It feels so good to get it out of my head and onto paper so I can dive deeper and really see where I am emotionally.

No more coffee after 2pm

A quick google search will tell you to stop coffee 4-6 hours before your bedtime. Other places it states 2pm. Through trial and error, I have found 2 pm to be a great cut-off for myself but of course, do what works best for you. Like I mentioned above, sleep should be a top priority for anyone intentionally focusing on their wellness so making sure stimulants like coffee are not happening any time during my wind-down time is a must.

While these are habits I try to do daily, I am human and no wellness journey is perfect. As a rule of thumb, I aim for a good 80/20 balance and give myself grace when things don’t go as planned. When you stop looking at your diet and exercise as areas to use on yourself as punishment and as a way to fuel and show kindness to yourself, the true magic will start to happen.

Let me know if any of these daily wellness habits resonate with you and if you’d like to see more on this topic.

Until my next post!