Making Space for Yourself: Health & Wellness Routines That Actually Stick

The demands of modern life often pulls you away from your own needs. Juggling work deadlines, family commitments, and social obligations often means there’s little, if any, time for yourself.

You need to prioritise your health and wellbeing in order to prevent burnout, but doing so can feel overwhelming. The key to creating lasting changes lies in weaving in simple, consistent practices rather than revolutionising your life overnight.

Here are some helpful tips to help you take control of your health and wellness routine.

Choose Small, Non-Negotiable Anchors

When building a new routine, don’t try and do too much at once, as it can be too overwhelming. For example, instead of aiming for a 60-minute workout every day, commit to just five minutes of movement. This becomes your non-negotiable anchor and is much more realistic and easier to stick to.

The trick is to make the task so small that your brain can’t argue with it. You are essentially tricking yourself into showing up, and you may even find that once you start, you often feel motivated to do a little more.

Stack Habits Around What You Already Do

You already have dozens of established routines that you complete on autopilot every day. This is where habit stacking becomes your most powerful tool.

Identify an existing, reliable cue and then attach a new desired habit to it. An example could be taking five deep, mindful breaths before you drink your morning cup of tea or drinking a full glass of water when you first sit down at your desk. This uses the momentum of an existing behaviour to propel you into a new, healthier one, making the routine automatic.

Mind, Movement & Rest

For a routine to truly stick, you must address all three foundational pillars of wellness. You need to consistently nurture your mind, honour your body with movement, and give yourself adequate rest.

For your mind, spend two minutes writing down things you are grateful for before you go to bed. For movement, go for a short, brisk walk during your lunch break. For rest, make a firm commitment to put your phone on silent and leave it in another room at least 30 minutes before you want to fall asleep.

By creating micro-habits in all three areas, you ensure a holistic and balanced approach to your wellness.

Know Your Support Options

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you still hit a wall. Firstly, this is completely normal, and secondly, it’s important to recognise when a persistent issue requires a different kind of support.

If you struggle with chronic stress, for example, consider speaking with a cognitive behavioural therapist who can provide you with specific evidence-based coping strategies.

Similarly, if your goal is to lose weight, but you are seeing no changes despite eating healthier and exercising more, you could consider options like weight loss injections. It is important to note that these kinds of things are not quick fixes and should be used alongside lifestyle changes and medical advice.

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.