A wellness plan is a document that outlines your goals and intentions for health, fitness and wellness. It’s important to create one because it helps you identify areas where you can improve your wellbeing, set realistic goals and track progress towards those goals.

Benefits of Having a Wellness Plan

A wellness plan is a great way to stay healthy and prevent illness, but it can also help you feel better in all aspects of your life.

• Physical: Your body will thank you for taking the time to care for yourself. Having a regular routine will help keep your physical health in check, so that when an injury or illness does come along, it’s less likely that it’ll be serious or long-lasting.
• Mental: A wellness plan gives you something positive to focus on instead of dwelling on negative thoughts or emotions–and this can lead directly to improved mental health! If nothing else, having a goal can give us something concrete to work toward; this has been shown by research studies (like this one) that show how setting goals improves self-esteem and confidence levels overall over time as well as being beneficial when trying new things out like sports activities or volunteering opportunities at work events where there might be lots of people around who could potentially judge me negatively if I don’t know what I’m doing right away…

How to Create a Wellness Plan

• Identify your SMART Goals
• Develop strategies to meet those goals
• Track progress
• Make adjustments as needed

What are some of the things you might want to include in your SMART Goals?

Exercise and Physical Activity

Exercise and physical activity are vital to a healthy lifestyle. The American Heart Association recommends that you engage in moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for at least 30 minutes on five days of the week, or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity for 20 minutes on three days of the week. You should also perform strength training at least 2 days a week. Exercise can take many forms: walking, running or biking; swimming laps; playing tennis or golf; doing calisthenics or weightlifting at home or at a gym; dancing with friends–the list goes on! However you choose to exercise, as long as it gets your heart rate up for at least 10 minutes at a time (and ideally longer than that), then it counts toward meeting your weekly goal of 150 minutes per week (or 30 minutes per day).

Stress Management

Stress management is a key component of any wellness plan. It’s important to identify your stressors and develop strategies for dealing with them. Try using the following techniques:

• Identify your triggers – What are some things that cause you stress? Do they happen at work, home or both? Are there specific times of day when this occurs? By being aware of what causes you anxiety, it will be easier to manage when those situations arise again in the future.
• Relaxation techniques – Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation daily if possible (or even better–before bed!). These activities will help calm down nervous system activity by lowering cortisol levels in our bodies which increases feelings of well-being!

Sleep and Rest

Sleep is a critical component of health and wellness. In fact, sleep is so important that you should think of it as a “nutrient” that your body needs to function properly. The National Sleep Foundation recommends getting at least seven hours every night for adults, but some people may need more or less depending on their age, activity level and other factors.
Sleep is also crucial for restoring energy levels after exercise–you won’t be able to perform at your best if you don’t get enough rest! If you’re having trouble sleeping because of stress or anxiety (or any other reason), try power naps: short bursts of sleep that can help refresh the mind and body without interfering with nighttime slumber.
Setting a consistent bedtime routine will help ensure that everyone gets enough rest each night; this might include taking hot baths before bedtime or reading books under covers with flashlights if lights are off due to an early wake-up call in the morning!

Relationships and Social Connections

Building relationships and maintaining connections is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It’s not just about having friends, but also having people in your life who care about you and will support you when times are tough.
Relationships are important because they provide social support, which is a powerful buffer against stressors in life. Social support includes family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers who offer emotional or instrumental help when needed (e.g., listening to problems). Human connections also make us feel less lonely and isolated; research has shown that people with stronger social networks tend to live longer than those with weaker ones.
Social media platforms like Facebook give us an opportunity to stay connected with others even if we don’t see them every day–but there’s also some evidence that using these sites too much may have negative effects on mental health over time by increasing feelings of envy or isolation among users who compare themselves to others.

Mental Health and Well-Being

• Managing negative thoughts
• Finding purpose in life
• Seeking help from others

Taking Care of Your Environment

• Create a clean and safe space.
• Reduce clutter.
• Declutter your home, office and car.

If you need help to get you started click here to obtain a free copy of my Wellness Plan Workbook.

XOXO,