Why You Need A Wellness Plan

 We're all doing it as another year is coming to a close... reflecting on the months past and looking ahead to the year to come, asking ourselves what we learned, what we want to do better at in the months yet to be, identifying goals we hope to accomplish, and habits we desire to form and sustain. Some call them "New Year's resolutions" but, as we all know, most of those go by the wayside within short period of time. While often good-intentioned, these objectives become difficult to follow through on week-in and week-out, all year long. 

But what if those intentions actually stem from a deeper issue in play? Whether it be losing weight, eating healthier, savoring life more, practicing a regular self-care routine, managing your work/life balance, or any other sort of personal goals... what if all that really originates with our willingness to come up with a personal wellness plan? Think about it: when someone hires a nutritionist or personal trainer and wants to get healthy and in shape, they and the person they hired come up with a plan moving forward that is tailored to the person's needs and lifestyle so that they get the most out of the time and effort they put in to achieve their objective. 

Why should mental wellness be any different? Or any sort of personal wellness, for that matter! 

See, most of the time, caring for our minds and our bodies is the last priority on the list. Whether we're a busy stay-at-home mom juggling toddlers or an infant, a businessman trying to climb his way up the corporate ladder, a pastor or someone in spiritual ministry that feels like the needs of their church, community, or organization calls for their attention 24/7, an athlete that is committed to doing what it takes to go pro, a college kid that's cramming for a huge test or finals, a musician that's practicing for some big upcoming concerts... whatever the scenario, we tend to put those major commitments and needs and people, first. We become so focused on what it takes to get to "the next level" in whatever we do or to be the best at whatever role we have - to not fail whatever and whomever we feel obligated to - that we are willing to drive ourselves into the ground in order to show up for our life everyday. 

Now, I'm certainly not denying the fact that there are certain times or seasons where putting your own needs on the back burner is necessary - I've had to do it several times when I had ailing family members. When you're caring for a loved one or perhaps have just welcomed a new baby or have an important deadline to meet, there will be exceptional situations where one must push through and care for one's self later on. However, I think there is a tendency in our modern age to get into the habit of thinking we must be in this mode all of the time instead of just on rare occasions. We train ourselves to keep putting certain things first to the detriment of other, more important things - things like family time, self care, time with God. 

Perhaps now more than ever, we need to be taking an honest look at our lives and coming up with a personal wellness plan. This isn't something that strictly about going to the gym or meditating or joining a yoga class or eating better. While these certainly may all be a part of it, what I'm trying to get at is making time in your life to be aware of your life - to create enough quiet so that you hear the whisper of God and the beat of your own heart. To have these moments when you intentionally put away the phone or computer and go for a walk and purposely listen for the birds and the sounds of nature and the hum of life. Where you get in touch with the God-breathed rhythm of the world. Where you decide it's time to get to the root of your childhood trauma or your unresolved fear. Where you start to realize that, in quite a few cases, the planet will go on without you and you can take the time to get yourself right so that you begin showing up for the wonderful life God has for you as your best self. 

For some, this may look like taking a full-on Sabbath. And not just a couple hours every Sunday at church but actually disconnecting for most of the day and doing something that refreshes and renews the soul and mind. For others, it may mean hiring a babysitter more often so they can take more date nights to grow closer to their spouse. It may mean leaving the office on time (or even taking the occasional half-day!) so you can have a relaxing evening to wind down and sleep well. It may necessitate reworking your whole schedule so you have fewer commitments and more time for what you really need and want. Each person's wellness plan will look different but the point is, to create and maintain one. 

Given my history with depression, post traumatic stress, and anxiety, I've reached a place in my own life where there are just certain things that I must do almost every day, without fail, in order to keep my brain and my body in the right space. If I neglect these parts of my routine for too long, I start to feel the impact: worse sleep, more stress, more triggers, etc. and all that combines to make me a less productive version of myself for those around me and the work God wants me to do. But it's meant I've had to say no to some things in order to make my well-being a priority so I don't pour from an empty cup. 

I don't know what the coming year has for any of us but I do know that, in order for every one of us to get the most out of this precious thing called life, we need to quit thinking that the world owns us and we are unable to give ourselves permission to care for our own needs. A lot of our mental health issues would probably dissipate if we just put more intentionality into giving our minds and bodies what they need to thrive. We have to stop feeling guilty and selfish for caring for ourselves on a regular basis and building into our routines things that help us not just survive but flourish! 

It may be hiring a life coach, going to see a therapist or counselor, dropping off some commitments, ditching a bad diet, getting more sleep at night, turning off your devices from time to time - whatever it looks like for you, sit down and have a meeting with yourself (and maybe some trusted friends or family) to figure out a wellness plan that helps you head into and through the next year in greater health, freedom, and hope. 

Jesus said in Luke 5:31 that "those who are well don't need a doctor but those who are sick" and, to a certain extent, we're all unhealed. That's why a Savior is necessary. And that's also why we need to reorganize that, just because we ignore those unhealed parts, doesn't mean they've gone away or they don't exist in the first place. Unless we prioritize and address them, they will continue to haunt us in some way, causing friction in our relationships and holding us back from abundance in our lives. 

If Christ came that we "might have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10), then we need to start tapping into that "full life" if something isn't working. If we realize we're not connecting to the vine (John 15), then we're well on our way to withering and dying because we've become detached from the Source. All of us probably can and should elevate ourselves from where we're at, taking our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical existence to the next level with God and this beautiful life He's given us. All this other stuff that we deem important probably won't matter someday when we're on our deathbed. But whether or not we grew, changed, loved, and lived...will. 

As we begin 2024 and say goodbye to the year that was 2023, I hope you'll take some time to ask yourself what a personal wellness plan might look like for you and then, with the help of God and the accountability of others, you implement it next year and see how it changes your life. It won't be easy, though. Change never is. Healing never is. But I can promise you it is worth it. And, after all, isn't our hope and desire at the end of every year that we find ourselves better off than we were before?