Creating Your Personal Wellness Routine: A Step-by-Step Guide

Taking a step towards integrating a healthy lifestyle starts with consistency. Consistency is driven by realism. When creating your personal wellness routine, always first evaluate your current situation, see what areas of your life occupy the most of your free time, and create realistic goals for yourself. For example, if you make your New Year's resolution to run a marathon, but you don’t have the time to consistently train, you might want to reevaluate that goal and break it down into something more attainable for where you’re currently at. Instead of running miles daily, start implementing baby steps that get you one step closer to that goal daily- walking more during the day, hopping on a treadmill, or doing strengthening exercises. When it comes to a routine, success is attained from 2 contributing factors: 

1. Creating realistic goals by taking baby steps (Don’t expect to jump from A-Z)

2. Making your goal your identity. Want to eat healthier? Believe you’re a healthy person who’s capable of a healthy lifestyle and ask yourself how would they behave? As cheesy as it sounds to achieve it you must believe it and it starts with identifying yourself as the type of person who is your end goal in the present. 

Ok so now you’ve established a goal and you wholeheartedly believe you’re capable of attaining it. Now you’re ready for our five steps in creating your personalized wellness routine:

1. Create a tangible schedule setting aside hours leading to your desired outcome

   Yes, I’m that girl who schedules in blocks of time to talk to friends, be social, do some hair care and work out on her Google Calendar. When it’s in my calendar I hold myself accountable for the task with a 99% greater likelihood I’ll remember to actually get it done. This is ESSENTIAL for “the always giving to others and not themselves” girls. Remember, you deserve time, too!

   Utilize the Task feature of your Google Calendar. I don’t know about you, but checking that empty bubble or crossing completed tasks out is one of the most satisfying and gratifying parts of my day. Just add some small goals like taking your vitamins, drinking 8 cups of water or more to your calendar so you’re always reminded of your self care throughout the day!

2. Come up with your self care non-negotiables

   Here are a list of some of my favorites:

1. When I go to bed, I always take off my makeup 

2. I always remember to do a morning and nighttime skincare routine

3. When I wake up in the morning, I always do some type of movement to wake up my mind and muscles

4. I always put on sunscreen before leaving the house

5. Before I go to bed, I always take magnesium to calm me down

6. After a workout, I always shower and moisturize my body

7. 30 minutes before bed, I always turn off my phone 

8. Make to-do lists

9. Set weekly intentions over daily goals

3. Implement mindfulness

   An integral part of self care is true relaxation, achieved from filtering out any negative, judgemental thoughts that do not serve you. Mindfulness can start with awareness, making sure you’re mentally flagging thoughts that are unkind to yourself. My suggestion would be to start with “should” statements. Do you think you “should” be doing something more/better/different in this present moment? Notice the thought, don’t act on it, and picture the thought in a bubble floating by. Visualize the bubble popping and affirm, I am exactly where I need to be in this present moment, I am doing more than enough, I do not compare myself to others for I know I am on my own path for a reason and I will get to the end goal in due time. 

   If you’re new to mindfulness, after you’re noticing you’re aware of your thoughts, try an app like “Calm” or “Open,” or put on a 5/10 minute guided meditation video on Youtube to quiet the mind.

4. Curate nutrition plans and supplements that fit your needs

   Personalize your nutrition and supplement plan by getting blood work done to highlight areas of vitamins and minerals you are low in. For example, most menstruators will benefit from taking an iron supplement a few times a month. 

   Find what ailments you’d like to target naturally. Have migraines and anxiety like me? Magnesium, specifically the easier form for digestion, magnesium glycinate is a great sleep aid and natural anti-anxiety, and migraine preventative. Other supplements good for naturally reducing anxiety include adaptogens like Ashwagana, Ginseng, and Lion’s mane. Remember to always talk to your doctor before taking new supplements! 

5. Find movement that works for your body

   Not everyone is made for running or hardcore strength training, and that’s ok! Low impact exercise like yoga and stretching might feel better. Find what works for you and leaves you feeling unstoppable. All it takes is a little trial and error. 

Remember that these are just a few ways to get your self care routine started. The possibilities for creating a personalized wellness routine are endless! Just be sure to listen to your intuition and your body to find what feels good. You got this!

The Berry Collective is by your side!

-Michelle