There is no doubt this year has been hard for many of us mentally, emotionally, and physically. But as a new season is upon us we are taking this opportunity to dive into change, growth, and positivity that a new season brings! With help from some of our favorite wellness experts, we are bringing you 10 tips on setting the tone for a new season. Time to press RESET!
- Know your “why” for wellness.
This is something many people overlook or just don’t even think about. It’s important to be well but why is wellness important to YOU? The best way to discover this is through journaling. Writing out your thoughts and being able to read them monthly is a great way to see yourself, be honest with yourself, and make adjustments where needed.
– Koya Webb, @koyawebb - Make a “Happy” Playlist and Dance. It. Out.
I have an ongoing playlist that has songs that make me smile and ultimately even shake my butt. It always gives me a mental reset and translates into positive action. The smile leads to a groove which spurs me into doing somethin’ good. BONUS TIP: I bet your fave Pound tracks will def do the trick. My latest guaranteed solo dance party – S.O.B. by Nathaniel Ratiliff and The Night Sweats.
– Marc Santa Maria, @marcsantamaria - Communicate your expectations.
I believe quite often we have expectations of others yet we never let them know what those expectations are. Our spouses, friends, parents, co-workers can not read our minds and so often we don’t actually ask for what we need and this leaves us resentful and angry. When we stop trying to do it all ourselves and ask for help it opens up communication in relationships and can set a whole new tone for our own energy, attitude, and wellness.
– Jenny Schatzle, @jennyschatzle - Internalize that food is neutral; it’s not good or bad.
When you understand this, you release the stories that surround it (i.e. diet mentality/feelings of shame / ‘on or off the wagon’ language. You will be amazed at how this creates an experience of enjoying treats in moderation and truly listening to your body. It will tell you what it wants and needs.
– Laura Lea, @lauraleabalanced - Think of your skin as a tool to better understand how your body is doing within.
Our bodies are constantly communicating with us and oftentimes issues our bodies are experiencing internally manifest themselves on our skin. Rather than beating ourselves up for not having perfect, glowing skin, let’s get curious about what our bodies are trying to tell us and lovingly think of ways in which we can support our skin rather than “fighting” it with harsh treatments. Sometimes dry, dull skin might be our body’s way of saying it’s dehydrated and we need to drink more water. Dark circles could be a sign of sleep deprivation or a nutrient deficiency. Eczema could be a sign of a food intolerance or a disturbance of our microbiome. If not for these signs, we may end up ignoring bigger issues happening within our bodies. So let’s take this time to be curious, kind, and grateful with our bodies for doing their best to keep us healthy.
– Cindy Pinzon and Leone Posod, @treatyourselfinc - Color.
Grab some markers, colored pencils, or crayons and just color. There’s something soothing about it. Coloring in the lines and then breaking the rules in ways uniquely you help your brain come back to neutral. BONUS: if you have kids, they’ll join you. Within 5 minutes of me starting, my twins always run over to me and start coloring. Chill family bonding time!
– Marc Santa Maria, @marcsantamaria - Focus on minimums, not maximums.
Don’t try to go “all or nothing” in your health goals; it’s not sustainable! Choose small, consistent, incremental changes, and remember that you’d rather have a lifetime of health than a quick but temporary fix.
– Laura Lea, @lauraleabalanced - Give the negative voice in your head a name.
You know the voice in your head that pops up and says; You’re not doing enough or smart enough or need to lose weight or look at what that person is doing on social media. I want you to give that voice a name so when you hear it you say, “NOT TODAY, TIFFANY!!”. And you make a perspective change for yourself.
– Jenny Schatzle, @jennyschatzle - Lean into this collective moment of awakening to spark your own inclusion journey.
This moment in time has been incredibly challenging for many of us, and it’s also surfaced new moments of realization and empathy for others’ daily realities. Whether it’s the disparate impact of COVID-19 on our most vulnerable populations or the racial awakening of Black Lives Matter, let these lessons inspire you to take action in big ways and small every day and to advocate for systems that empower us all.
– Kellie Wagner, @kelliemwagner - Care for yourselves so you can care for others.
Loving yourself and knowing that you matter is paramount in today’s society. The more you care for yourself, the more you can take care of others and the planet. Examples of self-care are taking a luxurious bath, buying yourself flowers, taking the time to read a book, going on a long car ride with the music blasting, or even taking a class for self-development. Only you know what you need to feel your best so taking time to journal and figuring out your “why” will lead you to what you need to do for your self-care practices.
– Koya Webb, @koyawebb