Celebrate National Wellness Month

National Wellness Month is celebrated throughout the month of August. Wellness can mean something different for everyone. I personally love this definition of wellness – “Wellness is the process of learning about and engaging in behaviors that are likely to result in optimal health.” The meaning of wellness has changed so much over the years. Creating a healthy mind and body isn’t easy and takes intentional actions to achieve.

We can’t practice wellness unless we learn how, and we won’t be successful in practicing wellness unless we are aware of what works for us personally. Wellness can be broken down into a few categories: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and environmental.

Out of these categories you can identify what’s most important and realistic for you. I suggest coming up with a plan to create healthier habits around the category of wellness that you feel like you struggle with the most. For example, I tend to neglect social wellness. After a long workday the last thing I want to do is socialize but this can cause my relationships to suffer due to a lack of communication and attention. I realize this may sound silly to some but for me, scheduling time to make a phone call to a loved one or have dinner with a friend throughout the week is one way I can be sure to care for myself socially.

Oftentimes, our daily obligations can overpower our effort to practice wellness. It’s easy to forget how important it is to care for ourselves in the middle of day-to-day stressors. As I’m sure you’ve realized, it’s impossible to succeed in daily tasks without prioritizing self-care and stress management. Creating healthy routines can allow you to be the best version of you.

Take advantage of the excuse to celebrate this month and practice improving wellness in your own life. Self-care isn’t a one size fits all. It won’t work for you if you don’t enjoy it so it’s important to create a list that you can choose from. We all know common types of wellness like exercising and improving your diet are obviously important so feel free to add those. Here are some fun new ideas for self-care that you can practice to celebrate wellness this month!

1. Pause, breathe, and relax
2. Schedule a health check
3. Create a new DIY project
4. Try a new recipe
5. Plan a friend or family activity day
6. Create new Pinterest boards
7. Look at pictures of your favorite city
8. Put your phone away for a day
9. Listen to your favorite childhood songs
10. Declutter a spot in your house that needs it most
11. Call an old friend
12. Go to bed early or sleep in late
13. Look at the stars
14. Try the new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try
15. Hang out with your pet

Sidney Howard, Outreach Coordinator

Sidney Howard is an Outreach Coordinator at The Kim Foundation. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Midland University, where she was an Event Coordinator for four years. Sidney has previous experience in behavioral health, working with youth and adults in direct care settings. Sidney is passionate about raising awareness around mental health and providing support and resources. She joined the foundation in January of 2023 and currently focuses on outreach through presentations, events, and relations.