Read this month’s column by Nurse Coach Meg Bonner about the importance of building a strong foundation for creating lasting wellness, not just following the latest trends.
Every day, there seems to be a new diet, a new contraption, or a new supplement vowing to provide better health. It can be overwhelming to sift through the endless information and know who to trust. Innovation can be beneficial, but sometimes, the pressure to keep up can do more harm than good!
True wellness isn’t about chasing the latest trend—it’s about maintaining a strong foundation and staying consistent. Without a strong and firm foundation, all the extra bells and whistles are just fluff. So, what exactly makes a strong foundation? I like to keep it simple and remember five key health pillars – sleep, movement, hydration, nutrient-dense foods, and stress management. Stay tuned because we will be diving into each of these areas in the months to come.
To support these key foundational areas, consider these key principles to keep you on track:
- What does wellness mean to you? – Wellness is not the absence of disease. Just like our bodies are interconnected, so is our wellness. Factors such as our environment, relationships, finances, and spirituality all play their part. Which areas are contributing to your overall wellness, and which areas might need some attention?
- Establish a strong why – Having a strong sense of purpose helps to fuel and sustain long-term commitments. Instead of saying, “I am going to lose weight,” shifting to “I’m going to get healthier” gives clear motivation and direction. A deeply rooted intention helps to recenter and refocus when life gets busy, and bumps in the road come our way.
- Remember, small steps are powerful – Speaking of staying on track, sticking to small, meaningful steps each day helps you to stay committed to your long-term goals. It is the consistency of our choices over time that truly add up to meaningful impact.
- Become self-aware – Regular check-ins with our mood help us to identify our emotional states and recognize the effects of stress. This type of awareness is the first step in managing stress effectively and not letting it derail us from our big-picture wellness goals.
- Adopt a resilient mindset – Developing the ability to adapt despite stress or difficulties creates a resilient attitude. Having a resilient belief system helps to keep you on track, remembering your why and staying connected to your overarching goals.
Building a strong foundation is powerful for overall wellness and adopting these key principles will help to establish consistent habits in guiding you toward lifelong health. Stay tuned as we expand further on five foundational health pillars in the coming months.
Meg Bonner,BSN, RN – Nurse Coach
Email: megbonnerrn@gmail.com
Website: megbonnerrn.com
Follow me on Instagram: the.holistic_rn
