When you think of physical wellness, do you think of exercising and eating healthy? Many people do, and while there’s no doubt those are important parts of being physically well, there’s actually so much more to it besides diet and exercise.

Why is it important to look at the whole picture when it comes to physical wellness? Thinking of physical well-being only in terms of fitness and dieting can put us under a lot of extra pressure and make us forget about the bigger picture. We might feel like we have to commit to a rigorous workout or cooking schedule to be physically well – and it can feel like we’re failing if we don’t measure up. It might be well-intentioned, but it’s often unrealistic for working moms to stick to that kind of schedule in the long run.

Now, I’m not saying you don’t need to exercise or eat well – you should always make an effort to do those things to maximize your physical wellness. Rather, it’s about zooming out a bit and taking a wider, more forgiving approach to physical well-being.

Why Physical Well-Being Is Important

Physical well-being is one component of wellness that contributes to our overall well-being. Most of us are aware that good physical well-being is an important part of overall health. We also know that it isn’t just about being a certain weight or eating salads every day. Not only does having good physical wellness mean we are fit and generally healthier, but we also experience:

Less sickness

Maintaining good physical well-being reduces our likelihood of getting sick by keeping our immunity levels up and promoting healthy body functions.

Less disability and injury

Poor physical well-being can increase our risk of injuries like back and neck pain, knee pain, and muscle strains. Having those types of problems doesn’t help when we are constantly on the move between work and kids.

Longer life

Being physically well reduces mortality and helps us live longer.

Less trips to the doctor

Regular trips to the doctor and other health professionals are important parts of maintaining our health, but it can be stressful if those trips become so frequent that they cause disruption to our lives. Good physical well-being makes us healthier and less likely to need excessive medical care.

Less cost

Maintaining physical well-being results in less dollars out of your pocket. More health issues as a result of poor physical wellness means more money spent in medical offices, and more time used addressing preventable problems.

More productivity

As working moms, we have a lot on our plates. Being physically well helps support our bodies and minds so that we have the energy we need to effectively get stuff done.

Better mental health

Supporting good physical well-being also has many positive effects on our mental well-being, including lowering our stress and anxiety levels and improving our general mood.

The benefits of paying attention to your physical well-being are well worth it. So how do we work on improving it?

How To Improve Physical Well-Being

Being physically well means taking care of our bodies and our health so that we can go about our daily responsibilities and enjoy life as much as possible. When we approach things in this way, we focus less on developing a rock-solid core and more on our health as a whole. That includes:

Sleep

It’s well-known that sleep is an essential component of good health and wellness. It strengthens our immunity, supports our emotional and mental health (which is intimately connected to our physical health), increases our productivity at work, and helps our bodies recover after injury by managing inflammation. You can help improve your sleep by:

Practice good sleep hygiene
Limit blue light from screens at night
Go to bed earlier when you can
Try meditation or mindfulness techniques before bed for stress and anxiety
Limit fluid consumption before bedtime
Use a scented pillow spray
Try herbal teas to promote sleep

Eating a nutritious diet

A healthy diet is one of the primary supporters of good physical health and wellness. Eating well gives us the energy we need to function throughout the day, supports healthy weight and digestion, reduces our risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems, leads to improved mental health and mood, and contributes to better overall function. What we eat also directly influences our gut microbiome, which research has shown affects everything from our mental health to our immunity. Here are some ways to support your nutrition:

Limit sugary drinks
Limit trans fats
Try to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
Drink at least 4-6 cups of water a day
Plan your meals for the week in advance
Take lunch to work instead of buying out
Avoid buying junk from the grocery store
Habitually check nutrition labels
Cook with and consume more whole grains
Eat more lean white meats than red meat

Physical fitness

Staying fit is an important part of maintaining good physical well-being and overall function. How else are we supposed to chase our kids around? Time and time again, research has shown that regular exercise benefits all of our body systems, including our daily function, quality of life, mental health, strength, risk of disease, and mortality. It’s great to have health goals related to fitness – I mean, who doesn’t – but you also shouldn’t feel bad if you aren’t able to commit to a gym schedule. Exercise can come in many forms, and it’s always better to do something than nothing. Here are some examples of how you can keep your body fit:

Do some light stretching at work
Gardening
Dance with your kids
Do 10 minutes of yoga in the morning
Get a standing desk for work
Get a walking pad for your home or office
Get a small bike pedal for under your desk
Take walking breaks while at work or throughout the day
Keep your workspace safe and ergonomically sound to avoid injuries
Get a workout partner to motivate you to be more active
Do a short home workout using an app or online video

Managing stress

The relationship between mental and physical well-being goes both ways. While physical activity has an impact on our mental health, our mental health also affects our physical wellness – chronic stress and anxiety levels can contribute to poor sleep, lowered immunity, and cardiovascular problems. There are many ways to manage stress, including:

Engaging in regular self-care
Practicing gratitude
Meditation and mindfulness activities
Taking micro-breaks at work
Getting better and more sleep
Exercising and staying fit
Talking with friends and family
Consulting with a mental health professional

Taking care of your body and medical needs

Going to the doctor and other medical professionals regularly and self-monitoring your own health is crucial to staying physically well. People who have regular checkups stay out of the hospital more and are more likely to stay on top of recommended vaccinations and tests to prevent illness. Here are some ways that you should take care of your health to promote physical well-being:

Schedule a yearly physical
Schedule regular dental and eye appointments
Listen to your doctor’s recommendations
Get vaccinated
Schedule a pap smear regularly based on your age
Monitor your blood pressure
Wear sunscreen

Practicing good hygiene

What’s the number one way to prevent the spread of infectious disease? Washing your hands. In general, good hygiene supports our physical wellness by preventing the spread of infection and illness. As a working mom, it’s especially important for keeping ourselves and our kids safe and healthy, and for being able to be productive at work. Good hygiene includes:

Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly before and after eating
Take sanitizing wipes of hand sanitizer with you if you’re on the go
Clean your home and workspace regularly
Taking care of your personal hygiene

Working moms are busy, and we don’t always have time to go to the gym or plan our meals as well as we’d like. Don’t stress – there are other ways to promote good physical wellness. Physical wellness includes more than just diet and exercise. it consists of all the ways we keep our bodies healthy so that we can enjoy life and do what we need to do. When we maintain good physical well-being, we enjoy all the benefits of being as healthy and functional as we can be.

How To Improve Your Physical Well-Being Besides With Diet And Exercise