These days, taking time out for wellness can feel like another job on the to-do list – we’re inundated with advice that involves 5am wakeup times, elaborate supplement regimens, or hour-long morning routines. But the good news is that the wellbeing habits that stick are those that you can do at your desk, during a lunch break, or any other time in a busy day. Whether it’s drinking more water or just getting outside for a few minutes, here are a few simple ideas to help you prioritise your health at home and while travelling, without turning self-care into another source of stress.
Build better habits by making small changes
You don’t need a complete lifestyle overhaul to improve your health and wellbeing. Pick just one realistic goal such as adding vegetables to one meal each day, walking around the block after dinner, or putting your phone away half an hour before bed. Once that feels normal, then add something else. In goal-setting, small wins are more motivating than chasing ‘perfect’ wellness, so make progress easy to spot by ticking off your evening walks on a calendar or simply noting in a journal when you wake feeling more refreshed.
Build wellness into everyday routines
One way to make healthy habits stick is by attaching them to things you already do. Stretch while the kettle boils for morning tea, take a walk while calling a friend, or prepare tomorrow’s lunch while dinner is cooking. The same principle works for making it easier to take care of your dental health. For example, you could keep a water flosser beside your toothbrush so it has an obvious place in your routine rather than creating yet another task to remember.
Plan ahead to make wellness travel-friendly
Travel has a way of disrupting even the most well-established routine, but with a bit of planning, you can take your healthy habits with you. Pack a small wellness kit with essentials such as medication, a water bottle and mini versions of your usual toiletries. If you have a long train journey or flight, bring healthy snacks so you won’t need to rely on station or airport food kiosks. Most importantly, try to adapt to your destination. For example, a morning swim at the hotel might replace your usual gym session. Or exploring a new city on foot rather than taking transport will increase your step count and provide some movement.
Choose self-care routines that you enjoy
It’s much easier to sustain a wellness habit if you actually like doing it. Don’t force yourself through endless 5Ks if you’re bored by even a ten-minute run. Try swimming, gardening, dancing to a YouTube video or a long Sunday walk through the park instead. The same goes for downtime. Reading while soaking in the bath, cooking something from scratch, or spending half an hour pottering around your favourite bookshop will restore you much more than an impersonal wellness ritual.
Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev
Wellness habits that won’t take over your life
The best self-care is the one that works with your actual life. Remember to start small, make wellness habits convenient and stay flexible if your routines need to change. Over time, those everyday choices will turn wellness into something you naturally do rather than another task you have to achieve.
These days, taking time out for wellness can feel like another job on the to-do list – we’re inundated with advice that involves 5am wakeup times, elaborate supplement regimens, or hour-long morning routines. But the good news is that the wellbeing habits that stick are those that you can do at your desk, during a lunch break, or any other time in a busy day. Whether it’s drinking more water or just getting outside for a few minutes, here are a few simple ideas to help you prioritise your health at home and while travelling, without turning self-care into another source of stress.
Build better habits by making small changes
You don’t need a complete lifestyle overhaul to improve your health and wellbeing. Pick just one realistic goal such as adding vegetables to one meal each day, walking around the block after dinner, or putting your phone away half an hour before bed. Once that feels normal, then add something else. In goal-setting, small wins are more motivating than chasing ‘perfect’ wellness, so make progress easy to spot by ticking off your evening walks on a calendar or simply noting in a journal when you wake feeling more refreshed.
Build wellness into everyday routines
One way to make healthy habits stick is by attaching them to things you already do. Stretch while the kettle boils for morning tea, take a walk while calling a friend, or prepare tomorrow’s lunch while dinner is cooking. The same principle works for making it easier to take care of your dental health. For example, you could keep a water flosser beside your toothbrush so it has an obvious place in your routine rather than creating yet another task to remember.
Plan ahead to make wellness travel-friendly
Travel has a way of disrupting even the most well-established routine, but with a bit of planning, you can take your healthy habits with you. Pack a small wellness kit with essentials such as medication, a water bottle and mini versions of your usual toiletries. If you have a long train journey or flight, bring healthy snacks so you won’t need to rely on station or airport food kiosks. Most importantly, try to adapt to your destination. For example, a morning swim at the hotel might replace your usual gym session. Or exploring a new city on foot rather than taking transport will increase your step count and provide some movement.
Choose self-care routines that you enjoy
It’s much easier to sustain a wellness habit if you actually like doing it. Don’t force yourself through endless 5Ks if you’re bored by even a ten-minute run. Try swimming, gardening, dancing to a YouTube video or a long Sunday walk through the park instead. The same goes for downtime. Reading while soaking in the bath, cooking something from scratch, or spending half an hour pottering around your favourite bookshop will restore you much more than an impersonal wellness ritual.
Wellness habits that won’t take over your life
The best self-care is the one that works with your actual life. Remember to start small, make wellness habits convenient and stay flexible if your routines need to change. Over time, those everyday choices will turn wellness into something you naturally do rather than another task you have to achieve.
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