Scheduling Wellbeing into your day

“I don’t have time” is a common saying in the working world.  For many, once the morning alarm goes off until it is time for bed again – our lives move quickly from one event to the next.  Add in a family dynamic to your daily routine and that just adds to an already busy schedule.   At Bass Pro Shops, we are invested in supporting you on your journey to becoming the healthiest version of yourself.  This doesn’t just mean weight loss; this is about total wellbeing – beyond your physical fitness.   

You can’t perform well at work if you are run down, beat up and hanging by your very last thread.  (Raise your hand if that last sentence describes you).  In today’s world, it would be safe to assume that you aren’t going to allow your phone or your computer battery power go down to zero.  The logic goes the same for your body and your mind.   Build time into your day that is strictly focused on wellness – whatever that looks like to you – whether that is a group class, a walk outside, meditation, choosing a healthy meal or just taking a mental break to stretch and hydrate.   

No matter what wellbeing means to you – different days may require different wellbeing activities – here are some simple steps to ensure wellbeing is a part of your day. 

1. Start small.  
   When it comes to starting any type of wellbeing routine, it is important to avoid doing too much at once.  Over doing anything can be it’s own roadblock.  Start small by incorporating simple ways to focus on your health.  Instead of scheduling a full 30-minute time slot to do yoga, try taking 5 minutes mid-morning and find quiet space to do breathwork and ground yourself.  There are many apps that can help with this type of activity.    The same practice can go for walking.  Break up your walk into 2, 15 minute breaks in your work day or even 3, 10 minute breaks if your schedule allows. 

2. Do what you love. 
   Wellbeing activities shouldn’t be torture.  The beauty of self-care and wellbeing is that it is on your own terms.  You decide what activity or practice works best for you.  Find something that you love and stick with it!   

3. Schedule an appointment with yourself.  
   I would be willing to bet that your day is centered around your Outlook calendar.   As they say, you either schedule the day or the day schedules you.  Make a “wellbeing appointment” with yourself on your calendar much like you would a conference call or doctors appointment.  This ensures that the time is blocked off and dedicated to you.  This is a boundary that can be difficult to set at first, as you will often try to talk yourself out of keeping it and prioritize other things, but it will be YOU who reaps the rewards of these valuable wellbeing appointments.  

4. Progress over perfection 

Wellbeing is not an all-or-nothing or a one-and-done task.  If you want to benefit from any sort of wellbeing activity, it will take a consistent effort each day to make progress.  Drinking more water, adding more steps to your day, trying a new class or running each morning – no matter the goal just target one goal at a time, get your new routine under your belt and add to it with the next goal.  

5. Keep learning. 

Change is the only constant in our lives.  Wellbeing will continue to evolve with each season of your life.  In one year, weight loss might be the main priority, the next could just be moving without pain or focusing on mental health.  It’s important and vital to sticking with any habit that you change it up, listen to your body and keep an open mind to new ideas, new activities and different perspectives.   

The sentence “I don’t have time” needs to become “I will make time”.   We all get the same 24 hours in each day, however that 24 hours is prioritized and looks very different from person to person.  You either make time for wellbeing or you make an excuse.   Your wellbeing is important and your quality of life depends on that.  So take care of yourself!   

If you want more individualized assistance, you can join Vida*, a wellbeing resource with health coaches dedicated to helping you create a roadmap to total wellbeing.  If you want to connect to other resources, we have our EAP with Health Advocate, the TRUE NORTH rewards program powered by the Sydney Health App and much more!  Visit bassprobenefits.com/wellbeing 

*Available at no cost to those who are on the health benefits plan.  If you are not on the health benefits plan, there is a fee based subscription available.