6 Wellness Habits I Haven’t Mastered Yet—And My Plan to Improve Them

I talk a lot about improving holistic health and wellness around here, but i am far from perfect.

Here are 6 wellness habits that have not been habits… and what I am doing to improve them.

There’s a lot of pressure at the start of a new year to arrive fully “optimized.” Perfect routines. Perfect habits. Perfect balance.

But if I’m being honest? Wellness doesn’t work like that—at least not in real life, and definitely not in seasons of motherhood, business building, and change.

I’ve shared the things I’ve done really well for my health this past year, and now I want to talk about the other side of the coin. The habits that are solid in theory… but still have room to grow in practice. Sometimes health habits ebb and flow, and that is okay.

Here are six wellness habits I haven’t mastered yet, and exactly how I’m approaching them differently this year.

1. Hydration (The Habit I Know Better Than to Ignore)

I know hydration matters. As a nurse, I’ve seen firsthand how even mild dehydration can impact energy, digestion, headaches, skin, and focus. And yet… it’s still one of the first habits to slip when life gets busy.

I don’t struggle with never drinking water. I struggle with consistency. Long stretches between sips. Forgetting until mid-afternoon. Realizing my “morning coffee first” habit has quietly replaced my water habit. Woops!

My plan to improve it:

• Drinking a full glass of water with electrolytes before coffee, no exceptions. I’ve been toying around with the idea of filling up my water bottle at night and just having it on the counter ready to go…. I’ll report back on how that plan goes IRL 😅

• Pairing hydration with existing habits— drinking a bottle of water on my way to school pickup, or after the gym

This isn’t about hitting a perfect ounce goal necessarily.. Just more so about supporting my body with steady hydration throughout the day.

2. Spending More Time Outside (Especially in Winter)

I thrive outdoors. My mood, nervous system, and creativity all benefit from fresh air and natural light. A few years ago we practiced 1000 hours outside and it was one of my favorite things to do! But unfortunately, those habits have kiiind of really fallen away. Especially during the colder winter months.

Cold weather, shorter days, and busy schedules make it easy to stay inside. But I’ve noticed that when I do, my energy dips and my stress tolerance shrinks.

My plan to improve it:

• Get back to drinking my coffee outside, even if for only a few minutes

• Planning more fun outdoor adventures— snowshoeing, winter walks, exploring new parks in the area, anything to make outside time feel a bit more novel despite the hard

Bundled walks, kids playing outside, quick porch time… I’m reminding myself that none of it has to be elaborate.

Sometimes getting outside in the winter is a bit harder.. but anytime we do, we all feel better mentally and physically. Here’s to making outdoor time more of a priority!

3. Stretching (The Most Underrated Form of Movement)

Stretching is one of those habits that sounds optional… until your body reminds you it isn’t.

Between workouts, sitting at a computer, carrying kids, and general life tension, my body needs more intentional mobility work than I’ve been giving it. Fun fact: back in 2017, I spent almost a month in India going to a yoga school. While that feels like a lifetime ago (and if I think about that being nearly a decade ago, I’m shocked), its a reminder of how quickly old habits can die off. Even when it used to be something that was a regular habit.

My plan to improve it:

• Short, daily stretching instead of long, infrequent sessions

• 5–10 minutes in the morning or evening

• Stretching more intentionally after my workouts

4. Getting My Morning Routine Back in Place

We had a lot of transitions in our home during the last six months. Mainly around my daughter starting preschool. We originally applied for a hybrid homeschooling program and didn’t get in. So we homeschooled. And then a few weeks later, after finding our rhythm, we found out we were off the waitlist and invited to start. Which was such a huge answered prayer!

But I will be honest— our mornings are not consistent day to day at all (2 days a week we are going to school and the gym, 2 days we are homeschooling, and Fridays are at the gym). Just our weekdays include 3 different morning routines 😅

While I could probably change my gym routine, or adjust how we do our homeschool days, I know that the real issue traces back to my bedtime routine. I love reading and will stay up way too long getting lost in a story… which keeps me up later, making it harder to wake up with enough time to have “me time” before my kiddos wake up.

My plan to improve it:

• Set 2 evening alarms- one as a “warning” for 15 minutes left of reading to get to a good stopping point, the second is a hard cut off to get to bed

• Getting back into the routine of waking up at 6 to make sure I have intentional quiet time before my kids wake up

Having an intentional morning is so so important for my mental health the rest of the way. It’s when I read my Bible, pray, journal, plan the day and just enjoy some quiet time before we are on the go.

5. Returning to a More Minimalist Mindset at Home

Over time, stuff accumulates. Extra purchases. Well-intentioned items that quickly turn into forgotten-about clutter. I have always known that I am much less stressed when my space has a more minimal feel…. less to clean up, less to maintain, less to replace. Not to mention we have more time as a family when we are not juggling things.

My plan to improve it:

• I scheduled out one day per week to clean out an area of my home and do a much-needed purge. These things will either be given away, sold, or tossed, depending on what it is.

Minimalism, for me, isn’t about having less for the sake of it. It’s about creating a home that feels supportive instead of overstimulating.

6. Creating More Structured Work/Life Separation

Working from home is a gift—but without boundaries, work can quietly seep into everything.

As a business owner and mom, it’s easy for my brain to always be “on.” Answering emails late. Thinking through content during family time. Carrying mental to-do lists everywhere.

My plan to improve it:

• Clear work hours (even if they’re flexible)

• Physical cues that signal the end of the workday

• Being more intentional with transitions between roles

Work/life balance isn’t about equal time—it’s about mental presence. I want to be where I am, fully.

A Gentle Reminder as You Set Your Own Goals

I hope that sharing this list can serve as a reminder that none of us have it “all figured out”.. while we excel in some areas, others naturally fall to the wayside. But I think true growth and progress happen when those seasons seasons of “falling off” become shorter and less frequent. Because a healthy life becomes a habit, a sustainable rhythm, and just something you do rather than something you aim for. (another reason why your wellness goals should be aligned with a framework of sustainability— not fads).

You don’t need a full reset. You don’t need to overhaul your life. Often, the most impactful changes come from refining what’s already working—and giving yourself a whole lotta grace in the process.

What is an area you are working to improve this year? I’d love to hear from you!

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