How I redefined wellness as a mom-entrepreneur without the woo-woo
The New Wellness: A Busy Mom's Way to Intentional Living
As a millennial working mom building a business, you would think I would run for the hills when I hear the word wellness. As a black woman raised in the Midwest, it originally made me think of barefoot hippies who only ate plant-based diets. When I moved to San Diego at 30, I really understood that that was far from the truth. Now that I have moved back to my hometown of St. Louis, I have a different opinion about what the word wellness means.
To me, wellness is an intentional effort to make choices to achieve harmony in your life. Those small changes you make through the day/week/month to make your life easier and fulfilling.
If you know me (or have learned from my Instagram and TikTok), I am a huge advocate for having a morning and night routine. Some habits just simply make like easier as a busy mom to a 6-year-old Virgo (if you know, then you know) who is working to become a successful entrepreneur and not experience burnout:
Swap your alarm app for the Hatch
I cannot tell you how much better my mornings (and days, for that matter) have been since waking up with custom sounds and lighting instead of sudden loud, harsh bells. My favorite feature of the Hatch is the Unwind step of the routine — it sets the tone before the sleep sounds. I have mine set for me to have a 30-minute long Unwind period of doing my skincare, straightening up my house, and doing some reading. It helps transition the night which makes for a better sleep.
Set a bedtime (and routine) like you do your child
I don’t know who needs the most intentional bedtime routine more, myself or my daughter. As a person who just overall values the benefits of a good night’s sleep (beauty and energy-related), I need to go to bed at the same time every night. Our night routine is pretty seamless at this point because we all need to be rested to be happy girls the next day:
6:30 pm - Family eats dinner at the table (no phones and iPads)
7:00 pm - Kennedy in the bath/shower
7:00 pm - Krista does the dishes, makes lunch, lays out her school clothes for the next day
7:30 pm - Krista reads Kennedy a book
7:45 pm - Kennedy in bed with Sleep Stories from the Calm App
8:00 pm - Krista watches Real Housewives of (Insert City), Law and Order Franchise or whatever and her phone goes on DND
9:00 pm - update Google Calendar and planner for the next day with tasks for the day
9:30 pm - Nighttime Skincare Routine
10:00 pm - Begins Wind down routine on the Hatch with book, mouth tape and phone away from me on the charger
Listen to your body, and act accordingly
I am so in tune with my feminine energy. It started when I started cycle syncing about a year ago, beyond just tracking my period. I was able to understand why I would feel so tired or very productive or creative during certain times of the month. Now I niche down and apply that same theory to the weeks and days.
If I’m tired at 2 pm, I know I need to step away from my desk and phone, not pour coffee.
If I have high energy, it’s because I have had a great workout followed by a high-protein breakfast.
If I have a headache, my sinuses can be inflamed, and need to use my gua sha and release the pressure.
If I’m lethargic, I need to eat something green and go to bed earlier.
Listening to your body and letting it tell you what it needs is probably the most underrated preventative care.
Wellness isn't a destination but a daily deposit of investments in your best self. When I honor my routines and listen to my body, I show up as a better mother for Kennedy, a more focused entrepreneur for my business, and a more grounded woman for myself. The small, consistent choices we make daily have the power to transform our lives in ways wellness retreats and day spas never could. True wellness is in the quiet consistency of honoring what you need when you need it.
If you liked this post, you will love Hot Girl Summer starts in the Spring and What Elevated Women Actually Need in Their Closet This Spring/Summer.
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