As a part of my desire to highlight women in business I was honored to have Dr. Tionna Jenkins write a guest blog about “New Year, New Year You, Self Care”.

Dr. Jenkins has been on a wellness journey herself and she is sharing a few tips with us!

 

When asked the question: “Do you take care of yourself?” Most of us will answer “yes, absolutely”— we’d even think, “What kind of question is this to even ask? Of course, I take care of myself and care about myself.”

When asked, “In what ways do you take care of yourself?” — well, that’s where the tricky part begins.  Most of us will experience the pressure in the beginning of the year to start with the reoccurring “New Year— “New Me” ritual.

 

Whether that pressure stems from your family, friends, our significant others, societal imagery or our own internal whispers; the need to “start a new” in the beginning of every year is a real pressure. I am sure, even as you are reading now, you may have set this “New Year— “New Me” as a goal.  I will not tell you not to do this or set the “New Year— “New Me” as a goal.

 

However, I will simply suggest that you reframe your internal conversations and commitment to yourself by slightly modifying your words.

 

Instead of the “New Year— New Me” ritual, let’s think “New Year —New Memories.”

Ask yourself, “What new memories will I create throughout the year?”

 

Not just starting in the month of January, but throughout the year and your life. The goal is to create a space for optimal health with a strong foundation that will flourish and sustain any new memory created.

 

Optimal health requires something that is actively planned, not just a mishap or something that you just do by mistake.  It is also a life-time investment, that is worked on little by little, every day.

 

You begin reframing your thought process by again, asking yourself, “In what ways will I take care of myself?”  “What new memories will I create throughout the year?”

 

As a public health professional who promotes and practices, self-care as a lifestyle; you should be very honest and hold yourself accountable in taking action on what you discover.

 

You can start by simply creating a list.

 

This list should include people, places and thoughts that support you in moving forward. It should also include those things which could potentially hinder your efforts from moving forward in achieving your optimal health outcomes.

 

Your list can be something as simple as;

 

1). Creating a “no plan” of things that you do not like or things you do not want to do.  Once listed, begin to act on those things immediately and be ok with doing so.  For example, I will not check emails at night.

 

2). Creating a “I will plan” of things that you do like or things you do want to do.

For example, I will remove unproductive places, places and/or anything that takes my time for granted or I will find a circle of supportive and accountable people.

 

3).  Actively engaging in relaxation moments such as yoga, breathing techniques, reading a book, long walks, quiet time or less screen time on social media.

 

4). Actively engaging in a consistent regimen of healthy eating and exercise. Not only is this practice good for emotional health, but it is excellent for mental health.

 

When I work with prospective clients, whether they are individuals or organizations, one of the first steps in obtaining optimal health is to assess the environment.

 

For the most part, the majority of inquiries from organizations are “How do we build a culture of wellness for our company?” And for individuals; inquiries primarily focus on goal setting, ingredients in food, and including more whole food-plant-based options into their diets and lifestyle in order to achieve optimal health.

 

In my wellness consultations or plant-based cooking courses, I teach that wellness is more than the absence of illness, but it is striving for positive physical, mental and social well-being.

 

Our environments, daily decisions and habits play a major role in the choices we make every day and the new memories we will ultimately create this new year.

 

I challenge you to create a space of freedom.  I challenge you to create and think different. I challenge you to create new memories.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Tionna L. Jenkins, Ph.D., MPH, is an author, TV content contributor, media personality and public health and public policy professional with over fifteen years of diverse experience in the field of public health through private, public and philanthropic sectors.

 

Dr. Jenkins is well versed and knowledgeable on the health-care and public health system.

 

A strong advocate for both personal health and systemic change, she is the founder and content creator of Plate It Healthy with Dr. Tionna L. Jenkins, a public health & wellness boutique created to share delicious whole food plant-based recipes, wellness programs, workshops and consultation services to both individuals and organizations.

 

For information regarding services, partnerships or to purchase Dr. Jenkins cookbook, Cooking In Color: Simple Plant-Based Recipes, please access www.plateithealthy.com or email directly at info@plateithealthy.com

 

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