Rethinking Wellness

I thought I was the healthiest I’d ever been … then the world shut down, and I realized just how wrong I was.

The truth is most people get wellness wrong — and it’s hurting them.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), wellness is defined as "a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, fueling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit." In other words, wellness is the combination of our physical, mental, and spiritual states. However, if most people think of only one or two kinds of wellness, usually physical.

How I Learned About Wellness the Hard Way

A few years ago, right before the onset of COVID—which has forever shaped our society—I thought I was in a good place. I thought I was "well." I was taking a 5 a.m. spin class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; Pilates and yoga on Tuesday and Thursday; weight training in the evening; and sometimes even playing tennis on top of all that in addition to working two jobs. I was convinced that since I was moving my body as much as possible, I must be well.

And then, COVID hit. Gyms closed, classes stopped, and I, like all of us, was stuck at home.

You see, I had gone through a rather unpleasant breakup a couple of months before and had been using physical exercise as a means to distract my mind from processing and reflecting. When the gyms closed and I stopped being able to move, things started tumbling down. I ate pizza rolls for lunch and dinner pretty much every day for two months and would lie on the couch for hours, staring at the ceiling. I gained 20 pounds in that short period—what I now call my "pizza roll weight."

Eventually, I got up and started moving again. The gyms opened back up, and I started to realize just how far I had strayed, but not because the gyms had closed. I could have gone on walks, ran at any of the local parks, gotten a bike, or even done home workouts. But my mental health stopped me from doing so, crippled by confronting emotions that had been bundled up for too long. There were some internal conversations I had to have before I could move forward in a healthy way.

So, I began to journal.

I would write for hours, several times a day, until my hand hurt. I would repeate the same thoughts over and over, ad nauseam, until I was exhausted. Slowly, I became aware of how truly unwell I had become in my mental, emotional, and spiritual areas. I started examining all aspects of my wellness, including my physical, mental, and financial states. Little did I know at the time, but those were my first steps toward cultivating the well-balanced, fulfilling life I now work to create every day.

To help others on their journey, here are some common myths—and some surprising truths—about wellness. The path forward begins with awareness: awareness of where we are currently, awareness of our conscious and unconscious thoughts about wellness, and awareness of the direction we want to move in. Wellness isn't achieved overnight, or even in a few months or years.

Wellness is a lifelong pursuit that begins today.

Myth #1: If I eat healthy and work out, I'm "well."

While eating healthy and exercising are important, wellness includes so much more—your mindset, emotions, relationships, and sense of purpose.

Myth #2: If I'm not always happy, something is wrong with me.

Wellness is about resilience, not just happiness. It’s about learning how to handle life's challenges in a healthy way—by confronting them, not avoiding them.

Myth #3: Self-care = more wellness.

Trust me, I love a good skincare routine and spa day, but wellness isn't just about doing activities that feel like self-care. Wellness is setting boundaries, saying no when necessary, and creating a lifestyle that supports you daily.

The Truth About wellness and How to Start Today

So, if wellness isn't just about eating healthy, always being happy, or self-care routines, what is it?

Truth #1: Wellness starts with self-awareness.

You can't improve what you don’t notice. Paying attention to how you feel—physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and financially—is the first step to improvement.

I go to the gym pretty much every day that I can. The other day I was feeling tired—I hadn’t gotten enough sleep the last few days—and technically, I had a rest day scheduled in my workout plan. So, instead I came home, took a nap with my dog, and now I feel like a new person. Paying attention to our bodies, listening rather than fighting, is the first step in giving ourselves what we need to be healthy and successful.

Truth #2: Wellness is rooted in daily habits.

A well-balanced life is created through small acts of mindfulness and intention throughout our days. It doesn’t happen overnight or through some grand epiphany—it’s the accumulation of consistent action over time.

Wellness is a lifestyle, not a destination. The journey begins with a commitment to ourselves every day.

Truth #3: Your environment is your wellness.

And I don’t just mean your physical environment—your home, work, or the spaces you spend time in. It’s also the people in your life. Your relationships with others and yourself: your internal environment.

If we want to be well, we have to create both internal and external environments that support it.

Wellness is achievable for everyone, no matter where you are right now in life. It begins with a choice—to prioritize your well-being and take action that supports it.

Until next time—Live Uninterrupted.

~ Coleman