5 Ways to Manifest Wellness in Your Life

When you look at your list of priorities, do you ever find yourself on any part of the list? Have you ever seen yourself at the top? 

In a time when all aspects of our lives are morphing together into some sloppy, sleep-deprived monster, we find ourselves struggling to put ourselves as a priority. We get way too focused on school or work to even think about having fun and spending time with friends. We end our days either sleeping too much or barely getting any shut-eye at all. 

It’s brutal living your teen and early 20s in a pandemic. But, even though our environment hasn’t been the best lately, it doesn’t mean we should skimp out on paying attention to ourselves. We shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting relief! Don’t let the hopefulness in you get lost. Let’s shift the way we treat ourselves in the pandemic and manifest wellness in our lives. 

Get physical!

This is probably one of the hardest things you can get into and one of the most misunderstood types of wellness. Contrary to popular belief, being physical doesn’t mean you have to pull a Chloe Ting and start doing all kinds of sweat-inducing workout routines. 

The best way to bring in physical wellness is caring for your body without pretense! Not out of ‘effectiveness’ for an ideal body type nor viral internet diets to be a skinny legend. It’s doing good things to make ourselves feel good! And here are the ways you can do it:

• Exercise: When I say this, I mean the best exercise that fits you, even if it’s simply getting your heart pumping and getting your mind off of things! Reframe the way you view exercise as strenuous and as a means of physical change or weight loss. And start viewing it as an enjoyable activity that gets you tangibly in touch with your body and out of your own head.

• Well-balanced diet: Everything you bring in your body directly affects your body outwardly. Eating better sets you up for a more energized, less fatigued, fewer mood fluctuating you! But, remember: This doesn’t mean you have to quit all your favorite food. All you need is a good balance of food groups and the proper nutrients in your food.

• Good sleeping patterns: You’re not you when you’re not taking a rest! In this culture of over-productivity, we need to allow our bodies to recover and process everything we did in a day. I know it’s tempting to get to bed late, but with so much going on, you need your moment of rest.

• Regular check-ups: We like to assume we’re physically fine until our bodies break and illnesses strike. So, why wait for that to happen when we can be proactive now? In getting regular check-ups, we can gain better advice on our bodies, catch diseases early on, and take necessary steps for a healthier lifestyle!

Get intellectual!

People typically think of intellectual wellness as academic or IQ, but that’s far too limiting in what it actually does. Instead of seeing it as a “smart person’s only” affair, getting intellectual means lifelong learning, being open to new ideas, boosting creativity, expanding your skills and knowledge, and so on!

The types of activities you can do for intellectual wellness are limitless because learning and curiosity never stop in a person. But, here are a few things you can easily infuse into your life now:

• Making time for hobbies: We always go on a cycle of work, sleep, eat, then repeat. Where’s the spot on our to-do list for the things we love? Hobbies allow you to destress and keep your mind engaged. You could be into scrapbooking, painting, poetry, or musical instruments; it doesn’t matter! As long as you’re interested in it, it doesn’t matter if you’re the best.

• Seeking new learnings: There are so many ways we can learn! You could take online classes and workshops, attend talks, do research on topics, or even watch documentaries. One way or another, find the best way you learn and the topics you’re most interested in! 

• Reading: The way reading can take us to so many places and alternate universes without leaving our homes. Whether you’re going fictional or non-fictional, there’s always a story worth paying attention to and gaining insight on through reading.

• Volunteering: You don’t always have to take a class or read books to learn new things. Sometimes, we’re the type of people who learn through application and experience. Volunteering and community work is the best way to understand and gain new perspectives about the world around us.

Get emotional!

We all face hardships and challenges in life. And while these experiences are part of our growth, it doesn’t take away the emotions we felt during them. They can cause us sadness, anguish, stress, and even anger. 

That’s where emotional wellness comes in! Whether positive or negative emotions, we as human beings have natural reactions to daily experiences. So, getting emotional is something we need to allow ourselves. Give yourself the safe space to express yourself, manage tricky situations, and find happiness. Here are the steps you can take on to achieve that:

• Validating your feelings: Why put yourself down when you can build yourself up? The same way we tend to others when they’re sad, we need to also check up on our emotions. Notice the times when you feel frustrated and acknowledge that this is what you feel. Instead of sweeping it under the rug, find ways to healthily address or change things.

• Taking a pause: When you’re high on emotions, you tend to mentally breakdown, or do something you’ll regret. That’s why you need to take a pause for a bit before it all gets too much! Don’t wait ‘til the glass is half-full or worse — overflowing. Give yourself time to think it over and take a pause. Refocus that energy into something else, even for a bit.

• Journaling: Not all of us are comfortable talking about our feelings, so writing them down is another way to improve our emotional wellness! You’ll find yourself refreshed after expressing all you needed to let out. And if it helps, try out positive affirmations and gratitude lists to put positivity back into the equation.

• Talking things out: There’s no shame in calling a friend! You don’t have to deal with your emotions alone. You don’t have stew in them all by yourself either. Let people who are close to you know what’s going on. And I’d guarantee that they’d fully want to know what has been eating up at you. Let them console you in their way and offer you encouragement.

• Counseling: When in doubt, ask for help! In times when talking to a loved one isn’t enough, or you might not have people to turn to, the next possible step is going for professional help! We know it’s a scary and intimidating thing. And you might think you need to be diagnosed with something to get counseling or therapy. But, anyone going through a tough time, needs someone to talk to, and has the means to access it should go for it!

Get social!

As human beings, it’s part of our nature to need other people in our lives. We’re social beings, after all! Having other people around us allows us to feel support, care, and love. At the same time, they help us learn more about ourselves. Our support system can be a source of fun and happiness while also a shoulder to cry on. They’re there for us when we need them, and we’re there for them too.

But, maintaining those relationships requires effort. Here are the strategies you can take on to foster and develop social wellness:

• Making an effort to keep in touch: Life gets so hectic that we forget to prioritize the people right in front of us. So, a good first step to social wellness is putting in the initiative to keep in touch with people you care about. Make time for people to check in on them. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to lose connections because of losing touch.

• Finding ways to build relationships: No matter how long a friendship is, there are an infinite number of things we never get to know about people and an endless number of ways we can deepen our relationships. In that, it’s important to work on our friendships consistently! The effort doesn’t stop at a certain point; we always find new ways to bond with our loved ones.

• Cutting off toxic people: Part of growing up is learning we need to choose the people we let into our lives. And admittedly, some relationships are just so emotionally exhausting to your mental state. When it comes to people in your close circle, you want to feel comfortable without fear, hesitation, anxiety, or stress. 

• Meeting new people: Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed to have a strong support network around us. If you’re one of those people, or maybe just a social butterfly who likes to meet others, offering your friendship is excellent for social wellness! And there are so many avenues to meet people outside school or work. You can join communities, organizations, or shared interest groups. You could even meet people online now! Just make sure you’re being safe about it.

Get financial!

It’s common to hear the phrase, “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” But, the problem with that kind of statement is that it doesn’t consider the security that money brings to our life. Financial struggle is a common problem for households, especially in the pandemic where we’ve seen people lose their livelihood. To fulfill our basic needs, one of the first things we need is money to afford them. And from there, we utilize our money to build a secure, stable future. 

While money doesn’t guarantee happiness, having financial wellness greatly reduces your stress in life and helps you gain the freedom to take active steps to enjoy your life. Here’s how you can manage your financial wellness no matter what age group you’re in:

• Budgeting: Managing your finances requires knowing what you’re spending it on. And sometimes, we can go overboard with our spending habits. That’s where budgeting comes in! Find areas of spending that you need to prioritize, such as food and housing. From there, map out your expenses into your needs vs. wants. It’s possible to find balance in spending! 

• Saving: Where budgeting is concerned, saving takes over. It’s not realistic to spend all your money in one go. We typically have financial goals, like getting a car, paying for our education, or starting a business. So, set your goals and make it a point to save! But, it doesn’t stop there. We also need to set aside emergency funds or savings blankets to prevent living paycheck-to-paycheck. 

• Treating others and ourselves: It’s common to see people feel guilty for buying outside of their needs. But, getting to give back to people and ourselves makes life worth living! There’s so much pressure to save specific amounts at a time, but living so strictly in your finances can take a toll. It’s okay to treat yourself to things you enjoy. And it’s okay to treat other people to make them happy! 

• Considering long-term: Making long-term plans isn’t just about hitting those financial goals. It’s thinking about what would happen if you went through an emergency situation or the general reality of spending more as you grow up. So, on top of saving, people also create bank accounts, invest money, or consider insurance plans to protect themselves.

Consult with a Financial Advisor. Visit advisormatch.sunlife.com.ph to get personalized guidance on your financial wellness journey.

To develop these key wellness aspects and manifest feeling well inside and out, there’s more motivation waiting for you at gowell.com.ph!

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