Take a hot bath or meditate. In a hustle-culture world, rest is the most radical act of self-care. Rest is productive. Rest is wellness.
At first glance, they seem like opposing forces. Body positivity says, "Love your body exactly as it is right now." Wellness says, "Change your habits to improve your body." The friction between these two concepts has left many people feeling stuck—too afraid to exercise for fear of betraying the body positive ethos, or too focused on weight loss to feel mentally well. Junior Miss Pageant 2000 French Nudist Beauty Contest 5.93
When you combine the two, you get a revolution. You get a life where you can enjoy your birthday cake and your morning green smoothie without guilt. You get a life where you run because you are alive, not because you are running from your body. Take a hot bath or meditate
Stop trying to choose between loving your body and improving your health. You cannot truly improve the health of something you hate. Start from a place of radical acceptance, and let wellness become a gift you give yourself, not a punishment you endure. Rest is wellness
Wake up and ask your body, "What do you need today?" If the answer is rest, take a rest day without guilt. If the answer is energy, go for a bike ride.
The core action of a wellness lifestyle is this:
Go to a social gathering without a "food plan." Eat what looks good. Trust that one meal will not derail your health, just as one salad will not make you "healthy."