Top 10 Easy Ways to Kickoff Your Wellness Journey in 2022
Looking for simple ways to add an extra dose of self-care to your days in 2022? We’ve compiled a list of ten easy ways we can bring in more self-love right from our very own Central Florida homes.
1) Meditation: Oh the power of a pause. We’re talking meditation; a practice that can be done anywhere around the house. We’ve all read about the benefits of meditation, but has it really sunk in? Did you know that research shows that just two months of meditation is enough to rewire the brain to encourage greater focus and better decision-making? Whether you decide to take some time in the morning in a quiet space inside of the home or outdoors, set a timer for fifteen minutes to simple breathe and empty your thoughts. There are great spaces around your Central Florida home for meditation practice. You can use your fire pit for meditation or lounge in your lanai. The beautiful part about meditation is that it can happen anywhere at any time and there are no rules. Sometimes even just taking one to two minutes to seclude yourself and breathe will do wonders to your mood, stress levels, and overall satisfaction. You can even practice now!
2) Chair Exercises: Whether you have a decked out home gym in your sunroom or a few weights around the house, these exercises are easy to implement and only require a chair. Chair exercises are a great way to make exercising accessible for anyone in the family. All ages can grab a chair, sit inside or outside by the pool area and begin doing simple techniques. There are so many free videos and tutorials for chair exercises for all ages and skill levels if you want to commit to a simple practice. An easy example of adding a chair exercise to your day can look like: taking a quick break from your work to sit up straight in a chair, feet planted on the floor and lift both arms slowly up high pretending to hold a heavy dictionary flat in each hand. Lift both hands up, slowly pushing up, imagining the heavy objects, and pushing up as though you were actually balancing the heavy dictionary in each palm. Doing these types of movements repetitively can help you not only build strength but also engage in a moment of mindfulness throughout your day.
3) Stretching: Stretching, just like meditation, seems to be something we all know is important but we don’t always take the time out to do. Stretching is also something that does not have to be overly complicated. Take some time in your room or out by the pool to simply do some basic stretches. I am sure we all remember a few from our school days or maybe you need a little refresher online but the goal is to get stretching! Stretching throughout the day can improve circulation, mood, and foster a better awareness of our bodies which can do wonders for our health.
4) Aqua Exercise: If you want to kick it up a notch, head outside for your ultimate space for wellness, the pool. Aquatic exercises can involve swimming, aquatic jumping, kicking, and using aquatic weights. These exercises are beneficial for all ages and are great for low impact exercises. Why not celebrate living in Florida by doing some aquatic exercises all year round.
5) Walks: Whether you have a furry friend that needs walks or not, the truth is we can all benefit from a daily walk outside. In fact, we can benefit from multiple walks outside. Research shows that exposure to the outdoors can reduce symptoms of depression, emotional fatigue, and contribute to boosting our levels of happiness. There are so many ways to add a quick walk to our day. Are you hitting a problem-solving wall at work? Walk. Do you have a phone call to make with a friend or family member to catch up on? Walk and talk! Grab your family, and make it a tradition to walk and talk after dinner. Even if it is just around the corner, a walk together can really help everyone.
6) Outdoor Dinners: Speaking of time outdoors, why not use your outdoor living space to commit to adding more outdoor dinners to your schedule this year? Whether you dine under your pergola or grill some fresh meals using your outdoor kitchen space, taking time to dine outdoors is an easy way to add wellness to your routine. Pro tip, even if you do not have a pergola or kitchen yet, you don’t need all of that to bring some fun to the outdoors–you can have a picnic in your backyard. Use your creativity and commit to some more time together outside this year.
7) Gratitude: Oh the power of appreciation. A free yet priceless gift of wellness we can add to our days. Whether we begin our meditations by breathing in and out using the words “thank you”, or we set a goal of saying thank you or sharing our appreciations more, gratitude will add wellness to our journey. Learning to see the good in our lives is something that will have a ripple effect on us and everything around us.
8) Add Juices and Smoothies: Saying thank you goes far beyond words. We can thank our bodies through our actions. One way to do this is by feeding our bodies with nourishing foods. An easy way to do this is by adding some fresh juices or smoothies to our days. We can start our day with some fresh juice along with our coffees or teas. This adds vitamins and nutrients to our days and will help boost our immune systems and our moods. How about adding a smoothie to our days. A little step in the right direction can go a long way.
9) Playfulness: Along with gratitude, playfulness is also a costless yet priceless way to bring in some joy and wellness to your new year. Playfulness can look like anything. It can look like being intentional about setting aside time to enjoy some backyard time with our pets, or setting time out each day to be silly with our kids, or simply putting on your favorite song and dancing to your playlist. Playfulness is, in a way, a skill, and something we cannot afford to lose. Remember to find ways to play throughout your day. Your inner child will thank you and you won’t regret it.
10) Give: Giving and wellbeing go hand in hand because giving and proven levels of happiness go hand in hand. Finding ways to give will bring us all to new degrees of overall wellbeing. This can look like adding a basket to your front porch area with little bottles of water or snacks for delivery people. It can look like giving someone a sincere compliment or appreciative feedback. Remember to give and that giving too, can be playful.
As we embark on another year together here in Central Florida, our hope is that we all take steps to grow together, and grow well. We hope that these easy steps inspire you to take strides to make your days beautiful days and make your home the space where everyone feels welcomed and well. From outdoor living spaces to screen enclosures, we are here to make sure your home is a place you love. To get started creating Contact U.S. Aluminum at 407-237-3128