New Year, New You — How to Improve Your Overall Wellness in 2021

If you’re like us, you’ll note that 2021 is feeling eerily similar to 2020. That just won’t do. So, if your wellness routine is feeling stagnant, or a little too much same ol’ same ol’, it’s time to take the year, and your routine, in hand. We've got a few ideas from our Which Doctor practitioners on how to get your year to fall in line, so the only question is—are you ready to take the reins.

Make 2021 the year you...

Indulge in Your Imagination

Play is important but we don't do enough of it as adults. Let your imagination and creativity blossom this year with renewed focus on finding that artistic part of yourself, and unleashing all that playful energy that's good for body, mind and soul.

Bringing out your inner muse could mean taking part in a rewilding dance workshop, putting paint to paper in an art therapy session, or even vibroacoustic therapy, which uses sound to promote relaxation and put you into a peaceful, meditative, healing state.

Become a Star-Gazer

At the start of a new year, everyone's looking to the future. While you can't plan for everything 2021 will throw at you, you just might be able to get a little inspiration from a celestial source. 

Medical astrologer Traci Thomsen of EyeMother Medicinals offers astro-herbal consultations to match what's going on overhead with what's going on below—looking at a client's birth chart, astrological sign, and symptoms to identify what natural remedies will help bring them back into balance.  

Add Some Colour to Your Life

We don't always think about the visuals in our environment but a splash of colour can give you much-needed energy on a grey day, help you focus amid a bout of brain fog, or brighten your mood when you're feeling blue.

This is the year to take a hard look at your wardrobe and your surroundings. Are you wallowing in dark shades, could you use a pop of colour? What about your home? Does it need a new year refresh?

Choose chakra colours for targeted relief. Fiery red is the root chakra, a good choice if you need a boost of passion or vitality. Blue is for the throat chakra, to aid clear communication. A chakra therapist can help you balance these points, cleanse your aura, and explore the link between colour and care.

Get Energized

We're all made of energy, and now's the time to tap into your own healing force. There are many ways to dive into energy healing—from the Egyptian reiki seichem to energetic crystal healing.

Don't forget your furry friends either—our pets sometimes need a new year reset too so you might want to check out animal reiki or light worker healing for pets.

Get Functionally Fit

You've probably heard the phrase 'functional fitness' as one of those exercise trends that keeps making the rounds. There's a reason functional fitness is perennially popular—it's exercise that allows you to live your life. 

Get strong so that you can twirl your kids in the air. Get flexible so you can bend over to grab that shopping bag. Get stamina so you can run for the bus. This is about fitness for life and longevity.

So where to start? Maybe with some stretch and strength private coaching? Or perhaps a power flow vinyasa? You might like the sound of online personal training to develop a routine specifically for your life and goals.

Travel the World

Not literally, obviously. With pandemic restrictions still in place it'll be a while before we get globe-trotting again, but you can take a tour of other cultures and traditions right from your computer.

Try a taste of ancient China with Traditional Chinese Medicine, including cosmetic acupuncture for better skin, cupping to improve circulation, or soothing acupressure. Head over to India for an Ayurvedic diet consultation. Pop into Thailand for a Thai massage to improve flexibility and banish any lingering holiday stress.

Get Reacquainted With Nature

2021 could also be the year you stay home and staycation in the great outdoors. Nature has profound benefits for our mental and physical wellbeing so if you spent most of 2020 stuck indoors, it's time to get out there and enjoy the beauty and peace of our green spaces (even if those green spaces are cold and snowy!)

An intuitive forest walk can help stimulate your immune system and calms busy brains, while a guided nature hike is perfect if you want something longer and more immersive. 

Take on the Rest of the Year!

Which Doctor is ready to help you take the next steps on your health journey… wherever they lead. 

Catherine Morris

Writer

Catherine Morris is an award-winning journalist with a bad case of wanderlust and a passion for all things health and wellness. Originally from Northern Ireland, she worked as a news and feature writer for media outlets in the UK, South Africa, France and the Caribbean before settling in Canada. Catherine now lives in Alberta with her husband and rescue mutt and spends her time happily exploring the great outdoors with both.