This past year has been hard on our mental health, physical health and overall wellbeing. A lot of having a healthy lifestyle depends on the ability to have a healthy routine, which many of us haven’t been able to do for the past year. So if you’re finding yourself in a wellness rut, you’re likely not alone. Even though things still won’t be back to “normal” for awhile, here are some things you can do to pull yourself out of it.
Destination Yoga
Chances are you haven’t left the house as much this past year, and cabin fever is real. Set aside a day to explore beyond your city (safely) with some destination yoga. Head to a new beach you’ve never been to before, or cruise up into the mountains until you find a peaceful spot. It’s amazing what a change of scenery can do for your flow.
Make a wellness vision board
What is important to you in your wellness journey? What does a healthy lifestyle look like to you? Making a vision board may sound cheesy, but there is a reason why they work. Create one on Pinterest or with magazine clippings with images to inspire you. Save recipes, fitness ideas, holistic health tips and more to help give you a central focus for your wellness goals.
Test drive a new workout
Make a list of all the workouts you’ve never tried before. We all naturally gravitate toward workouts that align with our interests, but what if you went the opposite way? Put pen to paper and jot down all the workout ideas you’d normally scroll right past and commit to trying one or two new workouts next week. You can even write them all on a scrap of paper and pull at random to keep it fresh and interesting.
Whip up a healthy evening mocktail
Sober-curious is one of the biggest wellness trends of 2021, so why not give it a whirl? Skip the sugary juices and syrups that usually accompany a cocktail and opt instead for kombucha, sparkling water, hibiscus tea and fresh fruits.
Eat more pulses
Pulses are plant-based proteins, such as beans, legumes, chickpeas and peas. Chances are, you have some dried or canned pulses in your pantry. Not only are these handy shelf-stable foods, they offer numerous health benefits. Pulses are full of fiber, therefore they’re digested slowly, which helps you feel fuller, longer. They also supply several immune-boosting minerals, including magnesium and zinc. Research into populations that live the longest, healthiest lives shows that those people tend to eat diets rich in pulses.
Spring-clean your workout wardrobe
We all have our tried-and-true loungewear and workout gear. But if you’re wearing the same pair of yoga pants over and over again, that’s not going to help you get out of your wellness rut. Depending on how often you wear them and the intensity of your activity level, you should be replacing workout gear every six months to a year. Use this as an opportunity to replenish your fitness wardrobe with some new sports bras and pants so you can help motivate yourself and give yourself a renewed excitement for your wellness routine.
Main + featured image via What Healthy Eating Really Is by Kara Stout.
