This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links. I will only recommend products that I have personally used! Learn more on my Private Policy page.
Wellbeing is often spoken about as something we should achieve—a state we arrive at once life is calmer, healthier, or more organised. But this way of thinking can quietly work against us. Wellbeing isn’t a destination. It’s a practice.
It lives in small, everyday choices rather than big, dramatic changes. It shifts with seasons, circumstances, and energy levels. And most importantly, it looks different for everyone.
Moving Beyond the “Perfect” Idea of Wellbeing
Social media and wellness culture often present wellbeing as polished and consistent: balanced meals every day, regular exercise, a calm mind, uninterrupted sleep. Real life, of course, is messier.
True wellbeing allows for fluctuation. It recognises that there will be busy periods, low-energy days, and moments when survival takes priority over optimisation. A wellbeing practice doesn’t ask for perfection—it asks for awareness.
Instead of “Am I doing wellbeing right?” a more helpful question might be:
“What do I need today?”
Wellbeing as Balance, Not Control
Wellbeing is less about controlling every variable and more about responding with care. That might mean resting when productivity feels expected, asking for help instead of pushing through, or choosing simplicity over excess.
Balance doesn’t mean everything is equal at all times. It means noticing when something is out of alignment and gently adjusting. Sometimes that adjustment is physical—more sleep, better nourishment, more movement. Sometimes it’s emotional or mental—boundaries, reflection, or space.
The Everyday Nature of Wellbeing
One of the most overlooked aspects of wellbeing is how ordinary it is. It shows up in:
How we start and end the day
The pace at which we move through tasks
The way we speak to ourselves under pressure
The permission we give ourselves to pause
These moments may seem small, but over time they shape how supported—or depleted—we feel.
Wellbeing grows quietly, through consistency rather than intensity.
A Personal Practice
Because wellbeing is personal, comparison rarely helps. What restores one person may drain another. Some people recharge socially, others in solitude. Some thrive on structure, others on flexibility.
Developing a wellbeing practice is about paying attention to your own signals and respecting them as valid. It’s learning when to lean in and when to step back.
Choosing Wellbeing, Repeatedly
Perhaps the most realistic way to think about wellbeing is as a choice we make again and again. Not perfectly. Not constantly. Just often enough to support ourselves through change.
In that sense, wellbeing isn’t something we have—it’s something we do. Quietly. Imperfectly. And with compassion.
