**Wild Definition:** Living or growing in the natural environment, not domesticated or cultivated.
Why am I suggesting we stay wild? Well, if you caught last month’s blog, I spoke about why being healthy is hard. One of the main reasons is that we have become a domesticated species. Instead of eating and moving in ways that have been natural to our species for tens of thousands of years, we are eating food from packages with unnatural ingredients and largely working at desks, sitting in cars to commute, and sitting while being entertained by the many different streaming services we subscribe to. All of this is having a negative impact on our health. To simplify it, we are living in a way that is unnatural for our health, and as a result, 45% of us are living with chronic illness.
Not only are we living in a way that is unnatural for our bodies and bellies, but we are also living in a way that is unnatural for our minds. Most of us live separate from nature, not getting time to breathe fresh air and take in the natural beauty around us. Being an adult is very complicated and busy in today’s modern world. For most of us, being an adult requires having a full-time job where we work around 40 hours per week. It requires living in a home that needs cleaning, maintenance, and consistent bills from different companies to run, such as internet, water, and electricity. Many of us develop hobbies or sports to keep us moving on some level and provide a break from work. We have family and friendships that fulfill our human need to socialize but also take time, energy, and sometimes involve challenging communications. To add to this, some of us have children or pets that require an intense amount of time and care. All of these responsibilities can add up and make most people feel overwhelmed and stressed. In the past year in North America, 74% of people reported feeling so stressed that they were overwhelmed or unable to cope.
What is one to do in all of this stress, lack of movement, and processed food that results from the domestication of our species? I say stay wild! Stay wild because it is critical for our health and also because it’s so much fun!
We need to move more, move in nature, and move like no one is watching. Get into the wild!! Go to forest, beaches, mountains—walk, bike, hike, swim, paddle or build trails! One of the things I love to do to feel this sense of my primitive self is running through the forest. Sometimes, I envision I’m Jane running through the forest, almost feeling like I can swing through the trees! We need to move around more frequently throughout the day—get up, stretch, and move consistently from work. Saving yourself for your scheduled spin class or HIIT class is not enough. Gardening is a great way to move, get your hands dirty, and plant food that you can eat! Dance like no one is watching—dance and sing in your car, in your living room, at a concert, festival, or club! Dancing to music is one of the best stress relievers. When I found this out, I wasn’t surprised, as it’s one of my favorite things to do. Intuitively, I must have related my impromptu living room dance parties to feeling so good during and after!
Eat wild food! Eat animals that are raised on free range farms. Perhaps you want to fish or try hunting your own game. As much as you can, eat food that doesn’t come out of a package and is organic. This includes fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, eggs, fish, whole grains, and unpasteurized whole-fat dairy.
Have wild fun! Yes, you need to take a break from all the adulting, worrying, hustling, and getting all the tasks done in a day. You need to laugh, be silly, and do something that doesn’t have a purpose of production, or perhaps even something that feels a little edgy, new, or different. This means doing something that takes you out of your comfort zone. I’m not suggesting doing something that could potentially hurt you or someone else here! Rather, get out of your routine and out of the “normal” day-to-day. This could be trying a new activity or sex play —yes, that could even count as a new activity! This could mean talking to a stranger or wearing a color or style you wouldn’t normally wear. This could look like going to a festival, dressing up, or skinny dipping. This could mean waking up early to take in a sunrise or staying up late to watch the stars come out. You could take a little holiday to a place you have never heard of and explore another culture. Bonus points for something that will make you laugh. Perhaps it’s time to book a comedy show! The point is to do something that makes you feel free, in the moment and alive!
Even as I write this, I’m inspired to put on my shoes and headset, go for a run in the forest, and if a track pops up and I’m so inspired, I might have to dance on the trail—even if someone is watching. Maybe I will make them laugh, or they might think I’m crazy, but I might inspire them to do something wild, to feel alive.
If you are a remote worker you have the ability to incorporate wild aspects into your day. Whether you work in an office or remotely I recommend get some fresh air and natural light on your face in the morning. Try to work in 50 minutes blocks with 10 minutes breaks to move around, stretch, do a few minutes of exercise or dance to music even and drink water before starting again. Plan ahead to have healthy snacks and meals to graze on, like an animal! Notice when you are starting to feel stress and have a ten minutes meditation to use on hand to breath and help regulate your nervous system and lower your stress. Have a end of day routine to transition out of work mode into your evening. Plan something that is wildly fun in your week, every week!
It’s time to get wild for your health! I want to know what is your wild, and when are you going to get wild? Please email Melissa@thewellway.ca to share with me your “wild”!
If you are thinking it’s been so long since I have been “wild” I wouldn’t even know where to start or you have never felt wild but want to try, I can support your journey in a few ways.
1) “Revolutionize Remote Work” like the name suggests it designed to transform how you work and feel. It integrates health habits seamlessly into your daily life, particularly if you work remotely or in a hybrid model. This course addresses the adverse effects of sedentary work environments, providing practical strategies for optimizing health amidst modern demands. For more information or to register, check out this link: https://thewellway.kartra.com/page/3aJ35
1) For personal and tailored to your unique self, one-to-one health coaching is likely better for you. Inquire here: Melissa@thewellway.ca
2) If you are a remote worker and you would like to incorporate wellness and wild into your work-day I have an on- line learning program. “Revolutionize Remote Work” like the name suggests it designed to transform how you work and feel in 12 weeks. It integrates health habits seamlessly into your daily life, particularly if you work remotely or in a hybrid model. This course addresses the adverse effects of sedentary work environments, providing practical strategies for optimizing health amidst modern demands. For more information or to register, check out this link: https://thewellway.kartra.com/page/3aJ35
3) If you care about your employees' health or want to incorporate wellness into your company, I do corporate learning and workshops. Inquire here: Melissa@thewellway.ca
If you like what you are reading, please share with those you care about as wellness and being “wild” is contagious!