August is National Wellness Month

This August celebrates National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, stress management, and creating healthy routines. If you are looking for an excuse to make a change, start this month in support of National Wellness Month.

Self-care is an important part of well-being for us as well as those around us. It can take 21 days for something to become a habit and 90 days for it to be a lifestyle change. Practicing self-care, managing stress, being mindful, practicing self-compassion, and focusing on proper nutrition and exercise are all things you could work towards incorporating into your daily routine. Here are some simple self-care habits to start including into your daily routine to help improve your well-being.

Drink more water. Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. Water helps give you energy, flushes toxins from your body, improves concentration, and can even help with weight loss.

Stretch or practice yoga. If you are on your feet all day, or sitting at a desk most of the day, stretching daily can help improve your posture, heal back pain, as well as ease your mind.

Try something new. Whether it be a new bike route, exploring a new restaurant, or volunteering. Doing something new can help improve your mental outlook and make you feel good overall.

Prioritize exercise. There are so many benefits to exercising including pain management, letting stress out, boosting confidence, as well as increasing strength, and so much more.

Pay attention. If something is making you feel overwhelmed or stressed, pay attention and act. Go take a walk, try a breathing technique, talk to a friend, find something to help alleviate the overwhelming feeling, and give yourself the opportunity to slow down.

Make healthy food choices. Food can impact the way you feel. Having a balanced diet and good nutrition will help nourish your body and lead to good overall health.

Take this month dedicated to wellness as your chance to begin creating and incorporating healthy routines into your daily life. Adding one or two of these habits daily or weekly can lead to big changes over time.

Jill Haupts, Outreach Coordinator for The Kim Foundation

Jill Haupts is the Outreach Coordinator at The Kim Foundation. She received her bachelor’s degree in Child, Adult, and Family Services from Iowa State University in 2016. Jill joined the Kim Foundation in January of 2020, coming from Des Moines, Iowa. Her previous experience includes volunteer recruitment and fundraising, as well as experience coordinating services and providing resources to adults who have a mental health diagnosis. Jill’s role in the foundation is coordinating event logistics, presenting and attending community fairs, as well as volunteer coordination and recruitment. She enjoys working in the nonprofit field and has a passion for advocacy and helping others.