Forget Wellness Trends
Just stick to the basics ;)
Did you know that you don’t need a Notion template, an Oura Ring, or a 5AM morning routine to succeed in life?!
If you’re on the social media wellness algorithm it can definitely feel like you need to have the latest gadget and health hacking protocol to be a happy and healthy person. This can be exhausting, and I have definitely fallen into this trap myself. But I’m here today to tell you… Don’t freak out, don’t get caught up in overly complex solutions, just stick to the basics. Prioritizing basic health principles (sleep, exercise, nutrition, social engagement, etc) in a way that fits naturally into your everyday life is going to be a much more efficient use of your time and increase your satisfaction.
A conversation a while ago with a friend of mine sparked this idea in me. I had been complaining about how I couldn’t seem to get the “ideal” sleep routine. I was obsessed with thinking I needed to go to sleep and wake up at a certain time (very early), and I felt a lot of shame for not meeting that goal. With the help of my friend, I started to realize how silly this arbitrary goal was. I began to unpack this strong belief I had. After some reflection, I concluded that my current sleeping schedule works pretty well for me. I focused on the benefits of going to bed regularly around 11PM instead of forcing myself to have the lights out by 9PM. With my current schedule I have the flexibility to have more downtime in the evening, which is important for my emotional regulation and creative activities. I also am able to enjoy workouts after a long day of studies and am available to meet friends spontaneously. I concluded that I needed a bit more flexibility in my self talk and figured other people might too!
So the next time you find yourself obsessing about following a health hacking protocol, try to unpack it. Why do you feel like you need to do this? Is this actually important? Would this actually help you? How is your current situation benefiting or causing a detriment to your health? Through these questions you can start to better understand what types of habits are going to be the most helpful for you.
Don’t buy a pink yoga mat with special rejuvenating fibers because Suisy from Instagram has one. Especially if you don’t even like yoga that much! Just find a style of health promoting practices that work best for you.
Check out my YouTube video on this topic for a deeper discussion.
