New Blog: The Practice of Living Well

Living well may mean different things to different people. And, there is no right or wrong. There is no one-size-fits-all.

It’s personal. And, just like so many things we do, like learning a new skill, a task, or even a sport, caring for ourselves is a practice. It ebbs and flows and changes during different phases of life, different seasons, and even on different days.

With that, self-awareness is key. Take time to ask yourself the following questions:

• What does living well mean to you? What is your vision of health?
• What really matters to you in life? What do you want your health for?
• Assess where you are now. What areas of your self-care do you feel are going well for you now? What areas would you like to improve? What are your barriers? Motivators?
• Set a goal or goals. Make each a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic and Timed).
• Be accountable for your goals!

You, as an individual, are at the center of your own health and wellbeing. Own it. And, this includes your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Self-care includes things that you do to take care of yourself, in all areas of your health and wellbeing. It’s not just about what we eat and how we move our bodies, but it is also our mind-body connection, our sleep health, our relationships, our professional and personal development, and our environment. It’s not any one element; they are all interrelated. Your self-care activities may be things you do on a day-to-day basis, from time to time to address symptoms or health needs, or collaborative self-care through partnering with health practitioners.

Take time to periodically reflect on your self-care plan. How is it going? How do you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally? Then take the time to refine your self-care plan… and repeat as needed!

In today’s day and age, we are bombarded by information. Sometimes we may feel overloaded with information, especially health information which can sometimes be contradictory and confusing, and, for some people, it’s just too much. This can result in no action. Others may take action for a period of time and then “fall off the wagon” or out of their routine. I know I can relate to that!

It’s important to keep yourself on your own priority list. Whether you are caring for your family, your partner, or perhaps you are also caring for an aging parent or others in our community, keep in mind that to take care of others, you need to take care of you, too! We cannot let those moments when we fall out of our routine derail us; we need to continue on our journey with self-compassion and self-kindness. Remember, living well is a practice.

For more tips on living well, browse more Wellbeing articles on the Beebe Women's Health Experience.