Wellness is so much more than squeezing back into our pre-baby jeans. And it’s even more than the feeling of everything going right and staying on schedule. Wellness serves as a springboard to achieving a happier, healthier life. Not only for us, but for our families too.
Now that we’ve defined wellness, let’s discuss its significance, benefits and how it actually elevates the calling of motherhood.
Why is Wellness Important?
Have you ever stopped to think why wellness is important?
Perhaps that seems like a simple question but when you stop and realize that wellness affects nearly everything we do each day, it bears a bit more weight than just thinking about our physical health.
All of our actions and emotions are dictated by it, including how we render love and care towards ourselves and our family.
Therefore, wellness matters in motherhood.
We must take care of ourselves as we take care of our families.
And that’s the challenge.
Parenting is challenging…draining, really. No one tells you about this, or maybe no one can really describe what it’s like to give your whole heart to your kids and family before yourself.
It’s like you’ll create a beautiful, balanced lunch for your toddler, but then give yourself the crust and already bit into leftovers.
Or maybe you’ll create the most blissful nighttime routine for your babes but when it comes your turn, you throw your exhausted self into bed after scrolling well beyond your bedtime.
Is that okay?
Now, I’m not naïve to this being reality some days. I still experience this occasionally too.
But when this becomes the sustained normal, our wellness can become non-existent.
The result?
Dissatisfaction.
Burn out.
And accepting the stereotypical labels of being “just a mom.”
Embracing Wellness Elevates our Calling
We need to work against how culture depicts a mom:
- hot mess
- fatigued
- lost
- wine to survive
- burdened, frustrated
We were not called to motherhood to be described as a hot mess or survive until nine then rely on wine. We are so much more.
When we adopt these labels, we can paralyze our well-being and who we are in Christ.
We lower the bar, as if saying “this as good as it gets”
Here’s where wellness actually elevates our calling, breathing more life into this profession.
As moms, we can vouch that yes, it’s hard, yes, it’s messy, and heck! It can absolutely be frustrating.
But when we embrace the culture of change and include small, healthier habits, we experience life changing benefits.
5 Benefits of Wellness
Here are some of the top benefits of wellness for moms.
1. Live Longer
Isn’t it way more motivating to think about reducing the risk of chronic illness, feeling better and even increasing my chances of living longer rather than counting carbs?
Wellness helps us honor our bodies, while also living life to the fullest.
2. Experience Less Stress
Mom life is stressful, that’s not a secret. I’d even argue it’s at an all-time high after 2020. Therefore, we can better prepare ourselves each day.
Wellness often means a boost to our hearts and minds which can minimize the distress and re-align priorities.
3. Be More Intentional
Our list is long, emotions are high. When we just go through the motions on a day-to-day basis, we become disengaged and overwhelmed, often focusing more on what we don’t have than the good we have been given.
Adding in those small healthful moments into the ordinary, we can feel more intentional, more engaged and more grateful. Even without the second cup of coffee!
4. Experience Quality Relationships
Keeping Christ at the center of our wellness cultivates healthier relationships– those that bless us and honor God. Therefore, we better understand how to serve and connect with our kids, husbands, neighbors, communities.
And did you know what the benefit of experiencing quality relationships is? Better health! They work to enhance one another.
5. Happier Mom, Happier kids
Research shows that the mood of one can greatly impact others– specifically bad moods. I don’t know about you but when I lose my cool, I feel this to the core.
Wellness won’t necessarily keep us from having a bad day or a bad moment– we are not perfect, nor are we supposed to be.
But it can give us the freedom to acknowledge our emotions, rely on Christ’s strength and work towards a goal. Here we can find the joy and peace (and fun!) in the process.
Wellness Matters, Mama
Just like an employee’s wellness impacts the organization’s success, so does a mom’s well-being impact the household.
We are the heartbeat of the house. If we are less stressed, better connected and more intentional with our hearts, we fulfill our calling to the fullest. And our kids and husbands reap the benefits too.
Wellness empowers us to elevate our quality of life.
Wellness redefines who we are.
Wellness sustains and replenishes us.
Wellness helps to celebrate motherhood.
Are you ready to embrace wellness?
I hope you found this post helpful! Continue on the path to better wellness by following along:
- Defining wellness
- Why is Wellness Important
- How to apply the 8 dimensions of wellness to motherhood (Future blog posts!)
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