Wellness, or holistic health, is an extremely trendy topic, and the bar for what qualifies is ever-increasing, often placing unrealistic standards on people who just want to live a healthy life. The thought of having to carve out even more space in an already busy schedule is a tough sell, at best. As a homeschooling mom and business owner, I get it. There are few of us that are looking to do more. In fact, don’t we all want a little bit . . . less? Less busyness, less distraction, less spending, less time wasted on the things that ultimately don’t matter.
If viewed through a Catholic lens, wellness is about pursuing good health in an integrated way that serves the whole person and our ultimate end (spoiler: it’s heaven). It’s possible that, in the midst of all the soundbites and targeted ads, what we really need is just a refresher on the foundations—those pillars of health that keep us on the right path without the excess. Understanding a few basic truths about human health can help us get back to the basics which God created to work in harmony with His creation.
Let daylight guide your schedule.
Once upon a time, people woke with the sun and would wind down as it got dark. While a strict practice like this wouldn’t be practical today, there is a lot to be said for supporting our circadian rhythm, which is arguably one of the most powerful things we can do for our health.
From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the LORD be praised. (Ps. 113:3)
Technology has allowed us to move beyond the boundary of day and night, but when our circadian rhythm is out of sync, it promotes dysfunction throughout the body. Simply sleeping 6-9 hours (our needs vary) at night is an automatic health boost. And during the day, we should expose our eyes to natural sunlight at different times. In the first hour of your day, take a few minutes to sit outside or by an open window. There is an entire hormonal cascade that is triggered by this simple act, which then sets us up for better sleep that night.
Make movement a part of your life.
Let’s notice I didn’t say running or even exercise. Those may be things you choose to engage in, but movement is much broader. For most of human history, people were not going to the gym for an hour each day, using different machines to strengthen different muscles. Movement was a part of life, and the whole body was affected because of the lifestyle. Granted, most of us don’t have a lifestyle where we are walking ten miles a day, or pushing giant objects across a field. At the same time, do we seek out convenience in every area possible to the point that we are barely exerting ourselves at all?
Little shifts in the way we move about our day can have a profound impact on our bodies, down to our cells! Go for a rosary walk instead of sitting in your living room. Park your car further from your destination to get in a few more steps. Avoid elevators or escalators unless absolutely necessary. Get on your knees to scrub your floors. Use vacuuming as an excuse to do some lunges. The options are endless, but the goal is the same: get your body moving and make movement a natural part of your life.
Hydrate well.
Who can argue the importance of water? Life cannot survive very long without it, but it goes far beyond mere survival. Proper hydration, which includes a natural balance of electrolytes, is crucial for cellular function. I’d love to know how many symptoms that people experience are really just due to chronic dehydration. Of course, there are countless things that could be said about water quality, but that is an advanced conversation if we’re simply not drinking enough pure water to support our daily needs. Does everyone need eight cups a day? I’m not sure about that, but a good start is to listen to our thirst cues. It sounds simple, but people get really good at ignoring these when we’re busy.
Eat real food.
We cannot escape this one. It’s something we all know—eat whole foods! But when we live in a convenience culture, it can actually be really hard. As someone who is passionate about nutrition, I even succumb to buying boxed mac n’ cheese and applesauce pouches in a pinch. It’s not about feeling guilty or “food shaming,” but just about striving to do a little bit better as we nourish ourselves and our families.
Can we opt for fresh fruit or chopped veggies in place of chips? Could we try cooking a whole chicken on Sunday, and use the bones to make bone broth? Do we have room in the budget to buy ketchup without high fructose corn syrup (if you’re up for it, you could make your own!)? Little shifts in our diet can have rippling effects on our health. Choosing one area to improve to the point that it becomes natural to us then paves the way for greater changes. I’m not saying your entire kitchen needs to be from an organic farm within five miles of you, but we can start by looking at the food we eat and honestly asking, “Is this nourishing me?”
Put first things first.
A holistic lifestyle can seem overwhelming, especially if it is a new concept. Taking care of ourselves, though, allows us to better serve in our vocations, naturally impacting those around us. And if the end goal is heaven, that should lay the groundwork for all earthly pursuits. Placing wellness in its proper context then, means living an integrated life of body and soul, tending to both.
Author’s Note: You can find more inspiration on holistic living through a Catholic lens in The Ember Collective’s new book, Feast Faith Flourish. This book contains seasonal and liturgical recipes, educational content on the foundations of health, spiritual reflections, and much more. The Ember Collective also publishes a quarterly print magazine to encourage you through the seasons.
Photo provided by the Author
