6 minute read
Staff Piece: What Does Wellness Mean to You?
We asked our staff what wellness means to them. Here’s what they had to say....
“For me, wellness is synonymous with balance. But this doesn’t mean the standard, tilted at an equilibrium scale type of balance. Some weeks this means sacrificing some sleep and in turn lacking on the exercise front, eating and drinking whatever I want, healthy or not… and did I mention spending a pretty penny on it all. Some weeks, this means cooking all week, prepping the hearty meals, working out every day and getting enough beauty rest so I might just have enough confidence to walk New York Fashion Week. What wellness never means is pushing these “healthier” weeks to the point of obsession and harm. Maybe this is just my early 20s speaking, and I think I’ll bring more and more meaning to balance and wellness as I get older. But for now, I’m okay with it.”
- Margarita Vinogradov
“Wellness means feeling good in both your body and your mind. I don’t just want to survive, I want to thrive in life. Personally, this means fueling my body with whole foods and exercising to get some endorphins. My favorite things to do to treat myself are practicing yoga, watching movies with friends, and eating my favorite desserts. My goal is to have a full life and whatever I can do to make it better is what wellness means to me.”
- Natasha Davis
“To me, wellness is doing things that make my mind, soul and body happy. Eating healthy, working out and being in nature makes me feel strong. Hanging out with friends and family, cuddling with my dogs, and traveling fill me with love and appreciation. Experiencing new things, taking interesting classes, and meeting unique people fill my mind with new perspectives and knowledge. All of these add happiness and motivation into my life.” - Sydney Rosmann
What does wellness mean to you?
“Wellness for me is an investment in the future person I want to be! I want to fuel my body today so I can be the best sister, daughter and friend (and someday hopefully a mom!). I know from experience that what you put in is what you get out. I want to feel my best, so I prioritize nutrition in my daily habits. You only get one body, gut and brain, so I want to take care of mine the best that I can.”
- Maya Fidziukiewicz
What does wellness mean to you?
“Wellness is feeling good about what you’re eating. Wellness does not have to be everything green, rather it needs to be balanced and make you feel motivated for the day. I often get yelled at for not eating enough greens or not looking at the calories, but I feel as though my food intake is balanced and healthy and aligns with my definition of wellness which is all that matters.”
- Brooke Bednoff
“For me, wellness is a feeling. Wellness is working to make my body and mind feel like they’re functioning at their best. When I feel mentally and physically strong, I feel well. Sometimes this means eating a salad for lunch, but a lot of times it means eating an extra dessert. It means exercising for my own enjoyment. It means putting my phone down and picking up a book. It means not being tired, hungry or irritable. It means taking a break when I need one and hanging out with my friends as often as possible. Most importantly, it means taking care of myself and my individual needs. Wellness is different for everyone — what do your body and mind need for success?”
- Caroline Crowley
“I think wellness looks different for everyone - there is no single definition. I’ve also found that my definition of wellness is not static but is fluid and has changed over time. For me, wellness is about prioritizing the activities in my life that make me feel happy and fulfilled with myself and life. I love experimenting with new recipes and making sure I am eating nutritious, flavorful meals so I cook daily. For me, it’s important to try to eat relatively healthy on a daily basis and incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and nuts into my diet. But I also love to indulge in foods that aren’t usually considered healthy. If I’m having a stressful day, I don’t feel bad treating myself to Chipotle with a side of chips, guacamole, and queso. I have a hard time getting myself to exercise sometimes, so although I try to make time in my life for it because I know it is so good for you both physically and mentally, I am gentle and understanding with myself when I don’t take the time. My definition of wellness also includes making time for family and friends, reading, and relaxing with movies and television. I’m constantly learning more about what makes myself feel good and learning along the way what I want wellness to look like in my life.”
- Sofia Rodriguez
“The meaning of wellness has changed a lot for me in the very last year. Earlier it was about the way I looked. I was trying to fit into the stereotypical images of beauty but in the last 6 months, I have realized the actual meaning and importance of wellness. Now I prioritize the way I feel much more than the way I look. I would say that doing so has made me feel comfortable and even beautiful in my own skin.” - Vasudha Khanna
What does wellness mean to you?
“Wellness for me is when I feel the most mentally and physically energized. This means that I’m doing things on a daily basis that make me feel energized. Some of these activities include eating nutritious foods that actually taste good, getting active (especially outside when the weather is nice), keeping promises to myself and taking mental breaks to prevent burnout.” - Navya Narendra
“I think that wellness is accepting yourself as you are and taking actions to preserve your continued welfare. Sometimes my definition doesn’t match up with how I apply it to myself, but part of my wellness journey is learning to show myself grace and flexibility. To me, the epitome of wellness is that serene feeling of mental clarity you get at the end of a particularly difficult workout session. It’s not really a positive or negative state; you just feel accomplished and a little surprised that your body made it all the way through.”
- Lily Schmitz
What does wellness mean to you?
“Wellness to me means balance. Eating healthy, working out, but also sometimes indulging in a sweet treat or taking the day off from the gym if I feel like I need it. Wellness to me is not only looking good but feeling good in my own skin.” - Sarah Fieldman “Wellness means balance to me. I have always cared a lot about what I am eating and will try to eliminate as many carbs from my diet as possible but my sweet tooth always hinders me. My biggest weakness is ice cream. Whenever I get the opportunity to get ice cream I cannot turn it down. Therefore, my wellness is eating nutritious meals but also allowing myself to accept my sweet tooth. On top of this eating lifestyle, I make it a priority to constantly engage in physical activity for both the mental and physical benefits.” - Carli Meltzer
“For me, wellness means self-care and self-love. Since the pandemic, I have learned so much about myself and what makes me feel like the best version of myself. I feel like I owe it to my mind and my body to do exactly what makes me feel happiest and healthiest. This means feeding myself with nutritious foods, exercising, journaling, and overall taking time out of my day to prioritize myself. Wellness also means walking with friends, doing my daily morning routine, and listening to a good podcast. I do not think wellness means obsessive restriction, strict exercise routines, or calorie counting, but rather just listening to your body and figuring out what it needs to feel its best.”
