Wellness Wednesday
Wellness Wednesday: Why Not Make It More Than Just Another Wednesday?
Did someone mention Wellness Wednesday?
What's that about then?
And, more importantly…
Why not Same Old Wednesday?
Wednesday can be a funny sort of day.
The Monday rush has hopefully subsided, but Friday still feels out of reach.
We’re somewhere in the middle, often powering on, ticking things off and simply trying to get through the week.
What if, instead of being just another day to get through, Wednesday became a little midweek pause button?
That's the thinking behind Wellness Wednesday.
So, what exactly is Wellness Wednesday?
What began largely as a social-media hashtag - #WellnessWednesday - has evolved into a familiar phrase associated with wellbeing, self-care, mindfulness and taking a little time to consider how we're actually doing.
And I rather like the idea.
In fact, I've chosen Wednesday to write this because I've been running a Wellness Wednesday Workshop online, for staff at our local county council.
And let's face it…
We could all do with a little more time to pause, reflect and reset!
Because there's an evolution happening.
Right here. Right now.
There's a BIG shift happening
We're living through a significant change in the way we think about health, wellbeing and success.
Wellness is no longer simply about the absence of illness.
It's about how we live.
How we feel.
How we function.
How much energy and vitality we have.
And whether the way we're living today is actually sustainable for the future we want.
There has never been a better time to take a step back and ask:
Is the way I'm living working for me?
Pay attention.
Who is paying attention?
Increasingly, it's industry leaders, business owners and high-functioning professionals who are outwardly 'acing it' but privately feeling overwhelmed.
People who are achieving.
People who are capable.
People who are busy.
Those who are perhaps doing very well on paper…
…but wondering whether there might be a better, more sustainable way of doing things.
And this is exactly where our work at the Virtual Wellness Hub comes in.
From Healthcare to Self-care
The Virtual Wellness Hub came about following the closure of our walk-in wellness centres during the pandemic.
My friend and associate, Dr Linda Khalid, and I recognised an opportunity to rethink the way we approached wellbeing.
Rather than seeing health as something that happens to us; something we seek help with only when something goes wrong, we wanted to encourage a more proactive, preventative and integrated approach.
One where we each have a part to play in nurturing our own wellbeing.
Our aim?
To support people in striving for longevity while maximising their potential to live healthy, fulfilling and successful lives.
Linda, a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, has certainly never been more in demand.
And perhaps that tells us something.
People are looking for ways to calm the noise, manage the pressure and feel more in control of their lives.
Empowering Employees
This is important in the workplace too.
There is a growing recognition that wellbeing isn't simply an employer's responsibility to 'provide'.
It's about empowering people to take ownership of their own wellbeing, while giving them the knowledge, tools and environment to do so.
The message can be simple:
Calm your agitated mind.
Get out of your own way.
Create your new reality.
Make choices that support the life you actually want to live.
The result?
A healthier, more fulfilled individual, with greater time, energy and vitality.
And for employers?
A workforce that is more engaged, energised and productive.
That's what I call a win-win.
But why Wednesday?
There's something rather appealing about the timing.
In a traditional Monday-to-Friday working week, Wednesday sits right in the middle.
You've climbed the Monday and Tuesday slopes…
… and now you're approaching the summit.
No wonder Wednesday has earned the nickname 'Hump Day'.
The idea is that once you've reached the crest of the week, you can pause, take stock and then make your way towards the weekend.
So why not use that natural pause as a reminder?
Stop.
Breathe.
Reflect.
Reset.
And then…
carry on with intention.
You don't need a complete life overhaul.
Sometimes a tiny adjustment is enough.
And here's another reason to pause…
Let's Consider Social Media.
It can be wonderful.
It can connect us, inspire us and introduce us to ideas and people we might never otherwise encounter.
But it can also leave us feeling that everyone else is doing life better than we are.
So, as part of my Wellness Wednesday thinking, here are my
5 Top Tips for Social Media Wellness.
1. STOP the scroll envy
How many times have you been scrolling and suddenly encountered someone else's success story?
The amazing holiday.
The promotion.
The beautiful home.
The perfect body.
The successful business.
The seemingly effortless life.
And for a moment, you compare.
'Why aren't I doing that?'
But remember this:
You're comparing your real life with someone else's highlight reel.
You have absolutely no idea what is happening outside that carefully selected snapshot.
So next time you feel that little pang of inadequacy, stop and ask yourself:
'I wonder if they're actually enjoying their success?'
You simply don't know.
And that's the point.
2. Be sceptical: 'Acing it but overwhelmed'
Some of the people who appear the most confident, polished and successful may be struggling too.
Social media gives us an opportunity to curate what we show the world.
We can choose the photograph.
We can choose the words.
We can choose the moment.
We don't necessarily show the sleepless night, the difficult conversation, the anxiety or the sheer exhaustion behind it.
So don't assume that someone else's apparent success means they have life completely figured out.
You are seeing a snapshot, not the whole story.
3. Ditch the comparison envy
Are you tired of feeling dissatisfied with your own life because you're looking at somebody else's?
Do you ever wonder:
'When is it going to be my turn?'
Perhaps it's time to stop asking that question.
Instead, ask:
'What would my best life look like?'
Not somebody else's.
Yours.
What would make you feel fulfilled?
What would you love to experience?
What would you change?
What would you do if you stopped comparing your journey with everyone else's?
Dream a little.
Imagine it.
And then start taking steps towards it.
4. Step off the social-media hamster wheel
If you want the best from life, you need to become your own best cheerleader.
You don't need an audience to validate your progress.
You don't need somebody else's approval to decide that you're doing well.
And you certainly don't need to spend your precious time endlessly scrolling through somebody else's version of life.
Step off the hamster wheel.
Go outside.
Talk to somebody.
Read a book.
Move your body.
Make something.
Laugh.
Rest.
Do something that reminds you that there is a whole world beyond your screen.
Life is a rollercoaster of joy, endurance and adversity.
Make sure you're actually living it.
5. Don't lose faith in your own ability
When we constantly compare ourselves with others, it's incredibly easy to convince ourselves that we don't measure up.
But you don't need to be the best.
You don't need to have everything worked out.
And you certainly don't need to become somebody else.
You need to believe that you are capable of finding your own way forward.
Because sometimes true strength isn't about looking as though you have everything together.
It's about holding on when life is difficult.
It's about getting back up.
It's about adapting.
It's about continuing.
And it's about knowing that your current chapter doesn't have to define the next one.
Be confident in your own ability.
So, what will you do with your Wednesday?
Perhaps today is simply a day.
Or perhaps it could become a little weekly reminder to check in with yourself.
Ask:
How am I doing?
What do I need?
What could I do differently?
What would make the rest of this week feel better?
It doesn't have to be complicated.
Wellness isn't about achieving some perfect state of health, happiness or balance.
It's about the choices we make, repeatedly, that help us move towards a healthier and more fulfilling life.
So…
Happy Wellness Wednesday!
And if you fancy making your Wednesday a little more intentional, why not explore some of my other Wellness Wednesday resources?
I've been creating a growing bank of practical ideas, prompts and tools designed to help you move from stuck to unstuck, muddled to managing or from adversity to advantage.
You can start with my earlier article:
Change Sabotage; Why Your Brain Sabotages Change
And if stress and overwhelm are currently taking up too much space in your life, you might also enjoy:
Because perhaps Wellness Wednesday isn't really about Wednesday at all.
Why wait to make a change?
Start today.
Whether or notit's Wednesday.
