5 Simple Steps to Rebuild Your Wellness Routine After a Break

Rebuild your wellness routine with five simple steps that focus on small, achievable goals, self-compassion, and creating a plan that fits your current lifestyle.

It is tough to be consistent and rebuild my wellness routine as a new mom. Motherhood is quite unpredictable; hence, I hardly get to plan out a well-thought-of schedule in which I can squeeze in some time. Unfortunately for me, this means going to yoga and hitting the gym are things of the past these days. For most people, that is pretty normal.

After all, not even the most routine-oriented person navigates a huge life event, like pregnancy, without struggling to get back into the groove of normalcy. The good news? Rebuilding how to get into those routines or better them to fit your new lifestyle does not have to feel overwhelming, sad, or honestly confusing. In fact, with only a little patience and self-compassion, with a clear plan, you’ll rebuild your wellness routine in no time and get back on your feet to feel great. Following are five easy ways to get you started.

What to do before returning to your wellness routines

So, you have decided you want to go back to a healthy lifestyle. Well, good for you. We all should be trying to, but again, in a balanced, patient, self-caring way. When I finally got the all-clear to return to normal exercise activities after my accident, I was so excited to resume old workouts that I tried to do all of them at once, immediately. At that time, most of the things that used to be easier for me became too difficult and required learning again from the very beginning. I got irritated by this fact, which ultimately made me lose my motivation and drop it.

You are not a superhero, and it is not a race. It is okay to go slow, to go easy on yourself as you readjust to these wellness routines. So, before you rebuild your wellness routines, here are some basic things for you to do:

• Practice patience with yourself when making mistakes.
• Within that routine, choose only one wellness habit to focus on for a while before moving on to the next.
• Ask anyone to accompany you so that you do not slack
• Just have fun!

How To Relearn Your Health Habits

1. Start Small and Set Realistic Goals

One thing I learned quickly is that you can’t just jump into your old habits right away. You have to take your time and start small. If you rush into things, more than likely you’re going to fail, and then you’re going to end up feeling angry with yourself can result in losing motivation or burnout.

The important thing when rebuilding a wellness routine is to start small, and the goals should be realistic. Examples would be: I want to start journaling every single day.

I am going to start with 10 minutes in the morning and work my way up until I can consistently do both morning and night for 30 minutes.

This will make it achievable, and the goals will get you back into your loved wellness routine. That, in a word, is known as SMART-a common tactic that one uses when making productivity goals. Using the SMART method, you will achieve your goals, and with time you will naturally see yourself grow. 

2. Focus on One Aspect of Wellness at a Time

Sometimes, it can be so overwhelming to zero in on one aspect of your wellness practices that need the most attention. That feels overwhelming and exhausting. Instead, bring into view those areas of wellness that have the most meaning to you in this stage of life, such as exercise, nutrition, sleep, self-care, mental health, or mindfulness.

After that, select only one specific habit that comes under that selected area that needs modification. For example, my chosen area of wellness is physical, and I am going to take an opportunity to improve my fitness by attending some classes at my local gym near my job. This will help in long-term results that can be more effective for your mental health and also enhance your motivational level.

3. Devise a schedule that fits your life at the moment.

One major reason people have a hard time getting back on track with their wellness is that people try to simply pick back up where they left off, even if their lifestyle has taken a drastic change.

Maybe you got a new job, or family obligations now, or you’re just having less free time than before.

It is not enough to recognize such changes but to adapt your routine to what is currently going on in your life rather than backward. Now take a glance over your daily routine and make an informed call based on how and when it could fit in realistically. If your mornings are nuts, you may want to carve out a bit of time in the evening to do a short workout or do some other self-care activity. You want to plan a routine that fits smoothly into your life and in which you can stay for the long term.

4. Find Accountability and Support

It is never easy to rebuild alone, and this is where accountability and support are even more important. Share with a friend, or family member, or in an online community so that you can help keep one another motivated and moving forward.

Be it through a workout buddy, social network wellness group, or personal coach, the person with whom you share progress will surely get you committed and motivated. In addition, you get to celebrate your achievements together, and as stated earlier, this serves as reinforcement for positive behavior and keeps you going.

5. Practice self-compassion and patience.

The biggest things that are important to wellness are self-care, love, and compassion. Without those, you have no hope of being able to return to any routine. Nothing happens overnight, and that needs to be remembered.

And if you do happen to eat McDonald’s for dinner some night, or miss the gym on occasion, that’s fine. That’s fine.

Sometimes, these setbacks will have to be accepted as part of the journey and be placed on the welcome mat for learning and rising above. Be nice to yourself, and treat yourself just as you would a close friend: trust that in due time, you will get back into rhythm, consistency, and so on.

Conclusion

Getting back to a routine after a break does not have to be overwhelming. You can easily get into your routine by starting small, focusing on one area at a time, creating a routine that works for you, seeking support, and being kind to yourself. Remember, it’s all about progress, not perfection, and permitting yourself to enjoy the process. Which activities do you plan on re-starting this week to get back into your wellness routine? Let me know in the comments!