Going into a senior project I had a lot of preconceived notions of wellness. I knew that the word itself meant some state of health beyond physical health, but I mostly associated the term with the trends that have come to surround it. The wellness industry has become larger than life, promoting cleanses, new ‘life-altering’ exercises, or even products to boost one’s wellness. I wanted to explore this wellness culture while also gaining an understanding of what wellness really is, beneath all of the branding. I didn’t have an expectation for one definition or experience of what wellness can be, yet the variety of ways to experience wellbeing and what wellbeing means in itself constantly surprised me.
For instance, going into the project I knew meditation was a practice that promotes wellness, but I kept searching for the ‘best’ meditation method to implement into my routine, and kept worrying that what I was doing when I was sitting attempting to meditate was not what was listed as a quality of meditation on some app or website. Similarly, while exploring nutrition, diet, and exercise, I encountered many different lifestyles that all claimed to promote the best health and it was very hard for me to navigate the contradictions that came up. Terms like intermediate fasting, intuitive eating and whole-food plant-based nutrition seemed confusing to me. Being bombarded with fads and outrageous practices while researching wellness was overwhelming in the moment but also made me realize why so many people find it difficult to live a life of wellness. The overcomplication of the wellness industry causes people to try different trends and fall into certain traps that may be fun, new or interesting in the moment but often result in a cycle of harmful habits lacking long term gains. That is not to say that I haven’t tried a juice cleanse or any of the other trends that have popped up over time, but I have come to view these practices differently. After completing this project, and beginning to understand more about wellness, I believe the practices that most effectively improve someone’s wellness are the ones they are able to do consistently, and the practices that feel best for them. If one discovers something trendy works for them that’s great, I think it’s most important to consider why one is doing a practice and reflect on what they are truly gaining.
Understanding that the best path to wellness is whichever path works best for me was a key turning point in my project. Also significant was acknowledging that the pursuit of wellness is a never ending, ever changing experience. Recognizing that change and variability in wellness practices is normal was something that allowed me to escape the pressure of achieving immediate wellness – whatever that means. This experience has made me more considerate of my relationship with myself and others. I have also implemented practices such as daily meditation into my lifestyle that have provided me with clarity and mental peace. While I don’t believe I have changed dramatically as a person, or achieved an optimal state of wellness, I feel I am better equipped to deal with anything that may stand in the way of my wellbeing.
My project was inspired by the health frenzy of this moment, and it has been very interesting to research wellness at such a stressful, and uncertain time. Learning about ways to improve wellbeing was helpful in times of struggle, but I am also curious as to how my wellness will be impacted when I shift into a different routine. My hopes for the future would be that whenever I end up going to college, or beginning college from home, that I am able to maintain the perspective of wellness I have now, and continue the journey in living a good lifestyle. One of the most important lessons I have learned is the importance of being forgiving of oneself, in times of learning, hardship and daily life. I try to be more attentive to this and hope others can as well.