Hello! My name is Jesse Cebulla and I am a Registered Nurse for Milestones in Alexandria, MN.
What is wellness? The dictionary definition of wellness is, “the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, especially as the result of deliberate effort.”
Due to the fast paced lives we lead it is easy to disconnect, have an increase in stress, and lack sleep. All of these factors can increase our risk of mental and physical illnesses.
It is beneficial for our health and wellness to learn healthy living skills and implement them each day. Let’s take some time to review some useful tips to live more calmly and cheerfully:
Deep breathing
Breathing exercises can be performed at anytime, anywhere and is a great relaxation and stress relieving technique. Try to find time at least twice a day for a minimum of one minute to perform some type of deep breathing. There are smart phone apps that can be downloaded to give guidance and provide reminders.
Being mindful
Stop! Take a step back and be present. Stop stressing about the never ending to-do list, it is never going to go away. Try to take a few minutes each day to balance your mind and body. There are many exercises that you can try. A few examples are mindful seeing, mindful listening, meditation and the grounding exercise (five senses).
Stop cruel talk
How can we start being kinder to ourselves? It seems so easy to be critical of how much we weigh, the size of the clothes we wear, the amount of money we make, the house we live in, the car we drive. Negative self-talk can increase anxiety and depression. Start noticing the good things about yourself and focus on those. We all have many good qualities!
Take care of yourself
Try to incorporate at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Start small, try three days a week and gradually increase. I know, it is easier said than done. If you use a pedometer, aim to get ten thousand steps each day.
Eat healthy
Healthy eating increases productivity, improves your mood, balances weight and helps you to live longer and healthier. Try to eat at the same time each day, if you can. Drink plenty of fluids to help you feel fuller and reduce cravings.
Get enough sleep
Getting plenty of sleep is critical to our overall mental and physical well-being. How many hours of sleep do you average each night? Try to set a goal to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
Remember that it takes an average of 66 days to form a habit, so if you slip up, wipe your slate clean and try again!