Why Taking Wellness So Seriously Is Backfiring
We’ve turned health and wellness into something you have to do perfectly… or not at all.
Somewhere along the way, taking care of yourself stopped being about feeling better and started feeling like a checklist you have to complete. Something you have to push through. Something you have to muster.
This method of approaching health and wellness so seriously is actually working against you. Here’s what you can do differently so that you create habits that stick and start getting the results you actually want, for you.
When Wellness Turned Into a Performance
Let’s be honest.
Wellness has become very… intense and performative.
It’s about being disciplined. “Locked in.”
Track this.
Optimize that.
Do more.
Try harder.
Ugh.
Now. Let me be clear:
I’m not anti-structure (I LOVE structure and routine).
I’m not anti-goals (I LOVE setting goals and intentions).
I’m not anti-effort (This is an INTERGRAL part of growth).
Yes, your health matters. A lot.
Yes, you should take your health seriously.
Just stop taking yourself so damn seriously while you’re figuring it out.
You’re Allowed to Enjoy Taking Care of Yourself
I really need you to hear this:
You’re allowed to enjoy this.
You’re allowed to experiment.
You’re allowed to make it fun.
Being serious about your health does not mean you have to be miserable taking care of it.
And this isn’t just talk… there’s actual science behind this.
Playfulness and curiosity activate dopamine, which supports motivation and learning.
Shame and self-judgment activate cortisol, which is linked to stress, avoidance, and burnout.
So if you’ve ever wondered why:
The “perfect plan” doesn’t stick.
Your motivation is always disappearing.
You keep cycling between being “on” and “off.”
It’s not because you’re inherently flawed…
It’s because pressure isn’t a sustainable strategy.
“Being Less Serious” Doesn’t Mean Letting Yourself Off the Hook
Now, let’s clear something up.
Are there days you’re not going to feel like it?
Yeah. Absolutely.
Does being “less serious” mean you just let yourself off the hook on those days?
Abso-freaking-lutely NOT.
It means you get to be flexible so that you can stay consistent.
…and consistency is KEY (over intensity - over anything else really).
It means instead of saying:
“Well, I missed my workout, I suck. I knew I’d fail again. What’s the point? I lost all my progress. This week is ruined.”
You say:
“Okay. That didn’t happen. That really sucks. What can I do today? What can I learn so I do differently next time?”
It means when you “fall off,” you don’t spiral.
You don’t shame yourself.
You don’t wait until tomorrow or next Monday to start again.
You simply… get back on.
No drama required. This isn’t so serious. Just get back to it.
Wellness Works When It’s a Relationship
Health and wellness being important doesn’t mean it has to be serious.
Because wellness isn’t a punishment.
Working out isn’t a punishment.
Eating a salad isn’t a punishment.
These aren’t tests you pass or fail.
Wellness is a relationship.
And relationships thrive when there’s:
trust
curiosity
flexibility
grace
and fun
Not constant criticism.
Who would enjoy being in a relationship with someone who always criticizes them?!
…that includes the voice inside your head, by the way.
You don’t build consistency by being harder on yourself.
You build it by creating conditions you actually want to return to.
Movement you don’t hate and makes you feel good after.
Recipes that you enjoy, leaving you feeling energized.
An inner cheerleader, instead of an inner critic, that helps you move forward instead of holding you back.
So, yeah, take your health seriously.
Just stop being so serious while you’re learning how to take care of yourself.
