5 Ways To Simplify Your Wellness Routine

Looking after yourself doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming. In this guest article by Thalia-Maria Tourikis, we explore 5 ways to simplify your wellness routine and look after your body and mind.

Forget about the expensive meditation retreats and skincare products that are sold to us daily. Your wellness routine doesn’t need to be overly complicated or cost a fortune to be effective. It can be simple and affordable.

After 5 years of prioritising my own health and well-being, I can tell you that the things I keep coming back to again and again are the basics.

Think sleep, movement, nutrition, nature and rest.

Here are 5 ways to simplify your wellness routine without spending hours on the latest self-development hack.

WHAT IS A WELLNESS ROUTINE?

A wellness routine is a set of healthy habits that you engage in to improve physical health and overall well-being.

This might look like eating more fruit and vegetables daily or doing yoga every morning.

The main objective of adopting wellness habits (specific to you) is to help prevent disease and allow you to show up as your best self.

The secret to any good wellness routine is to build it to work for you. I can’t stress this enough.

Wellness is not one-size-fits-all but unique to you. So don’t just copy what everyone else is doing and instead get clear on what’s best for you and your health.

Your wellness routine doesn’t need to look like buying a ridiculously expensive beauty product or trying a bizarre new diet. It can be as simple as mindful eating or carving out time for self-care.

As long as the habits you choose are positively impacting your overall health, and moving you towards a happier and healthier lifestyle, then that’s all that matters.

A question I love asking my clients to get clear on this is, “What does being healthy look like to you right now?”

Give it a go yourself and see what comes up for you.

BENEFITS OF HAVING A WELLNESS ROUTINE

I absolutely LOVE an intentional routine.

Whether on a Sunday as part of my weekly reset, in the morning and evening or after a long travel day, I need structure to help me navigate my day with clarity and confidence.

And this is no different to my wellness routine. It helps me show up for my health and intentionally support it.

Just like a daily routine, a wellness routine:

• Provides structure to your health goals
• Reduces stress and overwhelm
• Builds emotional resilience
• Helps you to avoid burnout especially if you focus on self-care
• Boosts productivity and creative energy
• Promotes better sleep
• Boosts confidence when taking on life’s challenges

5 WAYS TO SIMPLIFY YOUR WELLNESS ROUTINE

Here are 5 ways to simplify your wellness routine and look after your body and mind.

1. Prioritise good quality sleep

You can try all the wellness tools and hacks in the world but these are completely pointless if you’re not getting enough sleep.

The truth is, you can’t show up as your healthiest self if you’re denying your body the rest it needs. And prioritising good quality sleep is the best thing you can do for your health and wellness.

It gives your mind and body the time it needs to repair itself so it can function at its best.

Plus, it’s 100% free!

So do not skip this step.

It’s recommended that adults need between 7-9 hours of good quality sleep a night. (Sleep Foundation, 2023)

Now you’re probably thinking, is this even achievable? And I confidently tell you, it is with the right love and care.

The key to preparing your mind and body for this amount of sleep is to create an evening routine to help you wind down before bed.

Focus on:

• Going screen-free at least 1 hour before bed
• Stretching gently
• Listening to calming music
• Dimming any artificial lights and using candles
• Spraying your pillow with lavender

2. Move your body daily

Daily exercise keeps you healthy – both mentally and physically.

It gets your body moving, increases energy, boosts mood, reduces stress and eases overwhelming morning thoughts

In short, exercise is extremely beneficial not just for your health but your overall productivity and success too.

To incorporate this habit into your wellness routine, aim to move your body for at least 150 minutes per week.

I also want to emphasise that exercise doesn’t need to look like forcing yourself to the gym every morning at 5 am or powering through a sweaty HIIT class.

It can be fun!

Focus on:

• Finding activities you actually enjoy
• Starting small and committing to just 20 minutes a day
• Creating a consistent workout schedule
• Working out with a friend to stay accountable
• Tracking your progress

HOT TIP – Pair your workout with an outdoor space and fresh air for an extra health boost.

Which brings me to the simplest habit of all…

3. Get out in nature for fresh air

Out of all the wellness habits on this list, getting outside every day is the simplest. But unfortunately, it’s the one that’s probably the most forgotten about.

It’s so easy to get caught up in “busy work” that we forget to take care of ourselves. And one of the easiest ways to do this is to get outdoors.

I’m not talking about going from your home to the car and then into the shops.

I mean spending ample time in nature.

Being in nature is proven to reduce stress and anxiety and improve your mood. It encourages you to unplug from technology, easing the pressures of modern-day life and allowing you to be present.

I mean I don’t know about you but being in nature is literally my therapy.

I work outside at any given opportunity (perks of having a remote work lifestyle) and always end my day with a sunset walk. This helps me clear away the cobwebs, reflect on the day and gain clarity on my thoughts.

So if there’s only one thing you choose to implement from this list, make sure it’s this one.

Get out in nature and breathe in that fresh air. Future you will thank you!

Focus on:

• Starting small and going on a short walk in a nearby park
• Scheduling a time to go daily or weekly and making it a non-negotiable
• Setting an alarm to prompt you into going on your walk
• Committing to just 20 minutes
• Increasing your distance by 5 minutes every two weeks

4. Eat a well-balanced diet

Good nutrition supports all aspects of health and wellness.

From boosting energy levels and immunity to supporting long-term well-being and happiness. What you put inside your body can have a knock-on effect on aspects of your life.

There’s even research linking a poor diet to low energy levels affecting productivity.

I mean have you ever felt sluggish after eating a meal high in starchy carbs or sugar?

It’s because certain foods like bread, pasta, processed meats, fries and cakes (to name a few) cause a spike in blood sugar and a dip in energy levels.

But eating a well-balanced diet rich in REAL food like fruit, vegetables and good-quality meat can provide your body with essential nutrients so it can thrive.

To add this essential habit into your wellness routine I encourage you to be mindful of your eating habits and prioritise home-cooked food. Take some time now to write a list of well-balanced meals that you enjoy and will make you feel nourished.

Focus on:

• Starting your day with a savoury breakfast to keep blood sugar levels steady
• Eating whole foods (veggies, fruit, beans, high-quality meat)
• Avoiding overly processed and sugary foods

I’m confident that doing this one thing will make you feel loads better and prepare you every day both mentally and physically.

5. Make time to do things you enjoy

Although self-care is a popular topic online, I think it’s still massively underrated because we’re doing it wrong.

We see influencers on social media meditating every morning, writing in their gratitude journals and drinking matcha smoothies, and believe this is self-care. This is what we need to do to be “well”.

These things might help but they’re not the only way.

Self-care is any activity you do to help take better care of your health and well-being — whether that is one activity or multiple, a quick 10-minute exercise or an all-day event (like going to the spa).

This means self-care can be anything you want it to be as long as it has a lasting positive impact on you.

It doesn’t need to look like bending your body into uncomfortable poses during yoga. It can look like baking brownies, reading your favourite fiction book or simply going for a long walk in nature.

So make sure you include time for self-care within your wellness routine. When you take the time to rest and engage in things that bring you joy, you open yourself up to shifts in mindset, mood and energy.

Focus on:

• Writing a master list of feel-good activities
• Scheduling 1-2 activities per day depending on your workload
• Putting your needs first
• Committing to just 10 minutes
• Setting self-care reminders to stay accountable

FINAL THOUGHTS

Remember, wellness is NOT one-size-fits-all.

It’s about doing what works for you every single day so you can avoid burnout and feel happier and healthier.

That being said, the tips above are for inspiration only.

I encourage you to test them out first before fully committing to them because what works for me, might not necessarily work for you.

Feel free to take them as they are or adjust them to better suit you and your needs.

And if these tips seem slightly overwhelming then start small.

Choose just one habit to implement into your life rather than the full set. Introduce the one that seems the easiest to adopt or the one that will have the biggest impact on you and your health.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hey, it’s Thalia — Certified Health Coach & Lifestyle Design Blogger.

I’m a big believer in freedom, setting your own rules and breaking free of societal expectations. In 2017, I quit my toxic job to build a happier, healthier life and have been travelling the world ever since.

I’ve designed a life that aligns with my core values and brings me a deep sense of purpose. I’m now on a mission to help unsatisfied women do the same.

For more self-care tips head over to my blog.