9 Simple Holistic Health Habits to Improve Your Wellness Routine
August is National Wellness Month, a perfect time to pause and focus on your overall well-being. This special month encourages us all to embrace holistic health – an approach that connects physical, mental, and emotional wellness to support lasting vitality. When we nurture all three areas, we create a strong foundation for a balanced and fulfilling life.
Let’s explore 9 simple holistic health habits to practice daily, covering physical movement, nourishing foods, mental clarity, emotional resilience, and more. These holistic wellness tips are easy to start now and can be carried forward well beyond August.
Physical Wellness
1. Move Daily – Any Way, Any Time
Experts recommend aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity, like brisk walking or cycling, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week. But even short bursts of movement—like dancing for 5 minutes or taking the stairs—can improve your mood and energy.
Try this: Break up your day with quick walks, gardening, or stretching sessions. Taking small, consistent steps builds endurance and helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases over time.
2. Choose Whole Foods That Support Long-Term Health
A balanced diet rich in fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids is crucial for maintaining optimal digestion, promoting brain health, and preventing disease. Focus on whole grains, colorful vegetables, berries, legumes, nuts, seeds, and oily fish like salmon. At the same time, limit added sugars, ultra-processed foods, and those high in saturated fats.
Tip: Shopping the perimeter of your grocery store often leads to more wholesome choices. These shifts support sustained energy, better immune function, and healthier aging.
3. Hydrate & Maintain Hygiene
Staying well-hydrated supports your brain function, digestion, mood, and energy throughout the day. Drinking enough water helps your body regulate temperature, support digestion, and maintain kidney function – all of which are essential for processing and eliminating waste efficiently.
Along with hydration, maintaining good hygiene habits—like regular handwashing and daily oral care—plays a vital role in preventing illness and keeping you feeling your best.
Try this: Carry a water bottle with you to remind yourself to drink often, and make handwashing a mindful habit, especially before meals or after being outside.
Mental Wellness
4. Try Mindfulness & Deep Breathing
Mindfulness meditation and deep breathing exercises calm your nervous system, reducing stress and negative feelings. Even 5 minutes of mindfulness daily can improve focus and emotional balance.
Try this: Practice deep breathing techniques like cyclic sighing to ease anxiety and reset your mood.
5. Engage in Relaxing, Focused Movement
Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong blend gentle movement with breath work to support mental calm and physical strength. Spending at least 120 minutes a week outdoors—through activities such as walking or forest bathing—also improves clarity and emotional resilience.
Try this: Join a beginner Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong class, use online videos, or simply take nature walks to refresh your mind.
6. Cultivate Sleep and Recovery
Good sleep hygiene, including consistent sleep and wake times, as well as a cool, dark, and quiet bedroom, supports your immune system and mental health. Prioritizing recovery buffers against burnout and mental strain.
Tip: Reduce screen use before bed and create a soothing environment to improve sleep quality.
Emotional Wellness
7. Build Mind-Body Awareness & Positive Framing
Techniques such as guided imagery, positive affirmations, and visualization help build emotional resilience and reduce stress.
Try this: Incorporate daily affirmations or gratitude journaling to nurture a balanced mindset and resilience.
8. Prioritize Social Connection
Research shows that close social bonds can protect your mental and emotional health as effectively as quitting smoking or keeping your blood pressure in check.
Make time: Schedule regular calls or walks with friends, or send gratitude notes to strengthen your support network.
9. Practice Stress-Management & Self-Compassion
Effective stress management includes journaling, engaging in creative hobbies, digital detoxes, and brief breathing or tapping routines. Avoid overwhelming yourself with too many wellness trends – focus on simple, sustainable habits that you can maintain over time.
Remember: Self-compassion is key to maintaining long-term emotional balance and preventing burnout.
These 9 holistic health habits are simple yet powerful ways to improve your mental, physical, and emotional health. During National Wellness Month, choose one or two to start and build your wellness routine gradually.
We’d love to hear your journey – share your favorite holistic wellness tips or how you’re practicing self-care, by leaving a comment below!
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