How to Start Your Wellness Journey

In 2021, I was dealing with mysterious health issues. No matter what I did, I couldn’t figure it out. Although I didn’t have answers then, I knew I had to make some serious lifestyle changes if I ever planned to get back to health. Knowing something and putting it into practice are two different things.
Granted, I had the proper motivation to get my wellness journey started, but it still was challenging.

Here, I am sharing some tips that I wish I had been told when I started my journey:

Set Realistic Goals

When you start your wellness journey, it is best to set realistic goals. Many people set unrealistic expectations for themselves, leading to disappointment when they fail to reach them. Saying you’ll go completely vegan starting today may be unrealistic if you have a freezer stacked with steak in a house full of meat eaters. Everyone is different, but either way, remember to be gentle with yourself and have some small, manageable goals to start with. Start with some simple changes, like drinking more water and taking a walk a day. You’ll start to see benefits, and these things will start to become a habit. If you set achievable and measurable goals and a timeline, you will have better odds of meeting those goals and staying motivated to do so. This will help you stay motivated and stay on track to success. We’ll come back to the topic of goals in a bit.

Do Your Research

Start by getting as much information as possible from reliable sources such as qualified professionals and experts in the field. Please don’t rely solely on Tiktok for advice and guidance, as everyone is different, and what worked for your favorite influencer may not work for you.
Additionally, get any relevant tests. This could be anything from a blood test to an allergy test. This is where I started. Speak to your doctor and figure out what tests you need. That’ll help you identify potential issues and health risks and provide helpful information on what kind of lifestyle changes you need to make.
Finally, research different health and wellness practices, such as yoga, meditation, nutrition, and exercise. Learning about these practices can help you decide which ones are right for you and how to implement them into your routine.
With the right information and resources, you can develop a plan tailored to your individual needs and set realistic goals to help you reach your desired level of wellness.

Find a Support System

Having a plan for your wellness journey is vital for success. Start by envisioning who you want to be in the future. Think about how you want to feel and create a vision of yourself at your best. Once you have a clear idea of what you want, it’s time to make a plan to get there.
Start by writing down your goals and setting the realistic deadlines we talked about. That’ll give you something to work towards. Break big goals into smaller ones and focus on one task at a time. When creating your plan, it is crucial to ensure it is manageable and that you don’t take on too much too soon.
Next, set milestones along the way to celebrate your successes. This will help keep you feeling accomplished and remind you why you are doing this. Track your progress to stay on track with your goals and make adjustments if needed.
Finally, create an action plan for reaching each goal. Break down each goal into actionable steps that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely (SMART). Write down the steps and set reminders so you know when tasks need to be completed.
Creating a plan is the first step on your wellness journey. You can start taking action and reaching your goals with a clear plan. With a bit of determination and effort, you will be well on your way to achieving your vision of a healthier, happier life. I created a tool that’ll guide you in setting and planning out your goals. It’s called The Compass Planner, and it gives you a full system for setting and achieving goals in a way that keeps you accountable. You can learn more about the planner here.

Start Slow and Build up

When you start this journey, you must start slowly and build up. Most likely, there will be stops and starts. You’ll probably run into setbacks as I did. Don’t get overwhelmed. As the saying goes, “You’ve gotta crawl before you walk.” Creating a plan and setting realistic milestones will help you stay on track and celebrate small wins.
Start by focusing on one area at a time, whether nutrition, fitness, stress management, or something else. Take time to research each area and figure out what works best for you. Over time, make minor tweaks to your lifestyle and evaluate how each change affects you and your overall goals.

Also, remember to try to enjoy the journey! If you’re starting this journey as a response to health issues like I did, this part can be really hard.

I became intentional about thinking only empowering thoughts about why I was making changes and tried to cultivate self-compassion in tough moments. As you make progress, take time to appreciate the changes you are making and celebrate your small wins. This will help motivate you to keep going and focus on achieving your wellness goals.

Try to remember that even in tough moments, you are setting yourself up for a future of improved health, energy levels, and overall happiness. In 6 months, you could have a whole different life.

I believe in you. xx