Emily’s Guide to Wellness
Instagram: @emilyy.schmidtt
Q: What does wellness mean to Emily?
Wellness to me means my overall well being. My mental state, how I feel physically, emotionally, and the way I live my life. I incorporate wellness into my daily life through the types of food I eat, how I move my body, how I spend my time, and how I treat myself.
Q: Can you walk us through your personal journey to wellness?
My personal journey to wellness started with food. I struggled with my relationship with food and my body for years leading to a period of time when I deprived myself from food and proper nutrition. After I started my journey to recovery and healing, I made wellness a priority. I was sure to fuel my body with enough and the right types of food everyday and find things that worked best for me and my body. I began taking supplements and vitamins to elevate my overall well being and boost my energy. I used food medicine, and I started to use physical movement as a way to not only feel better physically but also mentally. I realised that the foods I put into my body, the routines I practice, and the way I treat my mind and body play the biggest and most important role to my well being.
Q: How do you incorporate fitness or movement into your daily routine?
I love to start each day with sunshine! It not only increases my mood but also gives me a burst of energy to start my day! I do push myself to be the best version I can be while also listening to my body and what it needs. I incorporate different types of workouts and movements into my daily life to keep things fun!
Q: How do you stay motivated to achieve all of that?
A big part of my motivation is the environment I am in. Who I surround myself with, the places I go to etc… I love trying new workout classes with friends, holding each other accountable, and making things more fun! I download some of my favourite podcasts and songs to keep me going too. Another big part of my motivation is knowing how good I will continue to feel if I keep pushing myself and working on myself!
Q: How do you prioritise mental health in your wellness practices?
Mental health to me is by far the most important thing. I take my mental health very serious & I put it first. If you don’t feel stable mentally it will manifest physically into your everyday life. I have weekly mental health check ups for myself on Sundays. I like to either journal or sit with my thoughts. I reflect on the week i had and ask myself how I feel. I set my intentions for the week ahead and practice being present. Mentally clearing my head makes me feel better physically. It’s so important to protect your mental heath and peace.
Q: What tools or techniques do you use to manage stress or anxiety?
Stress and anxiety is something I struggled with for so long. Through self help books, journaling, health habits, and surrounding myself with good energy I learned how to take control of my own thoughts and become present. To me, becoming present means freedom from your own negative thoughts and anxieties. You need to understand that YOU are in control over these thoughts even though it feels impossible at times. A lot of the times the thing you may be stressing so hard over becomes a lot smaller once you take a step back, a deep breath, and understand that your worrying and stressing won’t help you in this exact moment. The best thing you can do is become present and know that things will workout and align as they should.
Q: What challenges have you faced on your wellness journey, and how did you overcome them?
My challenges have been staying consistent and learning to be patient and gentle to myself. Everyone’s journey looks different! Understanding that helped me a lot and just allowing myself time to figure out what works best for me, my goals, and my body!
Q: Are there any misconceptions about wellness you’d like to debunk?
Yes. That wellness isn’t perfect! Social media especially makes it look like wellness is all about the perfect morning routine, a Pilates class, a green juice, etc… wellness is what you make it! It’s how you feel mentally and physically and the things you do to get you there! It’s about learning about your body and how it works!
Q: Who or what inspires your approach to wellness?
My mom inspired me more than anything! Throughout my whole life she would always incorporate healthy eating, positive mindsets, etc... into the way she lived her life and the things she taught me. She inspired me to be the best version of healthy self and her positivity has always flowed into my life and how I live! She really helped me learn how to be present and the steps to take to live my healthiest and happiest advice!
Q: What are three simple changes someone can make to improve their overall wellness?
It’s not an overnight thing! Take it day by day. Start small if you need to, in fact it’s best not to rush into things. Spend time getting to know your body, how it works, and what it needs. Start with one change you’ve been wanting to make. Practice it, stay consistent with it and you’ll see the difference it makes in how you feel.
Q: How do you recommend staying consistent with wellness practices?
Allow it to become apart of your routine. Just like you brush your teeth, allow your wellness practices to flow into these routines. Make it something you’re excited to do! Set goals and intentions for yourself.
Q: Are there any books, podcasts, or tools you’d recommend for learning about wellness?
I love the books by Eckhart Tolle to focus on for your mental wellness and wellbeing. I get a lot of great tips from wellness influencers online, and I spend a lot of time journaling because at the end of the day everyone’s wellness journey and what they need can be different! I also recommend learning how to heal your gut, learning about the right types of food you should be putting into your body, seeing a doctor to find out if you should be taking any supplements etc... Be sure not to get overwhelmed! Take it day by day and you will start to reach your goals and feel like the best version of you, you can be! :)