Am I There Yet? My Ongoing Quest for Wellness

Noticing and appreciating little things can really help with my mental clarity and feelings of wellbeing! Like being grateful for this tiny little tomato that I picked from a plant I grew in my container garden.

Some days, wellness feels like a distant destination — always just beyond reach. Like when we’re on a long road trip and just keep asking, “Are we there yet?,” I’ve found myself asking the same question over and over. Am I there yet?

Lately, I’ve been reflecting a lot on my wellness journey. Over the years, my mental health has had its ups and downs. Anxiety has been an almost constant companion—something I’ve mentioned in previous posts. I’ve also shared about the headaches, muscle tension, and the endless list of small physical struggles that come along with it.

My Realizations About Wellness

What I’ve come to realize recently is that wellness isn’t a destination. My efforts over the years to become as healthy as possible have often felt fleeting. I’d journal for a while, then stop when the motivation faded. I’d start meditating consistently—only for life to get too busy to keep it up. The one practice that’s stuck, though, is art. Even if only a little bit, I still make art almost every day.

Wellness, I’ve learned, is a journey. Just like managing our health, it requires ongoing care. I will never “arrive” at a place of perfect mental well-being—just as none of us ever become perfectly healthy. Life is always moving forward, and we need to keep moving with it: trying our best, letting go of bad days, and striving to take care of ourselves as best as we can.

An entry from my nature journaling session at ReFarm featuring an eggplant flower and a dog running in a field

Someone recently asked me what my day-to-day wellness plan looks like. So, I wrote it out—and honestly, I felt proud of what I’ve accomplished over the past few months. There are concrete steps I’ve taken on this journey: self-reflection, paying attention to what’s working and what isn’t, making adjustments, practicing compassion when I miss a day, and remembering that change doesn’t happen overnight.

For anyone interested in making their own wellness plan, I want to share mine here.

Part of my approach to strengthening my self-regulation is building supportive strategies into my daily routine—whether life feels stressful or calm. Right now, I’m in a relatively peaceful phase, which I’m very grateful for. Summer is a quieter time at work, and overall, things feel manageable. But even during these calm times, the habits I’m building now help me prepare for bigger challenges when they come.

My Wellness Plan

Here’s a snapshot of my daily wellness plan:

• Journaling each morning

• An evening sleep ritual involving vagus nerve stimulation, vanilla essential oil, meditation, and reading calming texts like poetry or meditation books

• Periodic body check-ins throughout the day to notice anxiety or tension, with conscious efforts to relax tight muscles

• An art practice, either painting or calligraphy

• Medication to help manage anxiety and tension

• Breathwork (box breathing and 4-4-8 breathing) whenever anxiety arises

  
  

Monthly, I also make time for:

• Therapy appointments

• A mindful writing session with a group of women

• Nutritionist visits to support healthier eating habits

• Nature journaling group gatherings

I recently started taking a calligraphy class (don't judge my work just yet!!!) and am realizing how meditative practicing this can be! Another tool in my mental health toolbox.

What I’m Working On

Some things I’d like to bring more into my life and my wellness plan include:

• More physical activity, including yoga and walking

• More time spent in nature

• More frequent breathwork throughout the day to calm my nervous system

  
  

I’ve noticed that sometimes the things that are best for us can feel the hardest to do. For example, I’ve been avoiding yoga for a while, even though I know how much good it can bring. I’m not quite sure why it’s so challenging to start or keep up with something that’s clearly beneficial. But today, I made myself do it — just 45 minutes of calm, gentle yoga, nothing too vigorous. And honestly, it was delightful. I felt so much looser, calmer, and more centered after that short time. It makes me wonder: why is it often so difficult to do what we know is good for our well-being? If anyone has an answer to that, I’d love to hear it.

I believe I’ve come a long way. Anxiety still shows up, but I’m actively working on it—and that’s part of the journey. Wellness is personal and ever-changing. Some days will be easier than others, and that’s perfectly okay. What matters most is showing up for yourself again and again, with kindness and patience. I hope my story encourages you to reflect on your own wellness journey—not as a race to a finish line, but as a lifelong practice of care and growth.

Your Wellness Journey

If you feel comfortable, I’d love to hear about your own experiences or strategies for wellness. What helps you keep going when it feels hard? Feel free to share in the comments below or reach out anytime. We’re all in this together.