The First Wellness Habit I Recommend to Everyone (Spoiler: It’s Not What You Think)
Hey friends! 🌿
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me where to start with wellness, I’d probably be writing this from a beach somewhere. 😂 But seriously—this is one of my favorite questions, because I remember exactly how overwhelming it felt when I started my own journey.
Most people expect me to say something like:
“Start with a workout plan!”
“Go on a diet!”
“Buy this supplement!”
Nope. 💥 My real answer?
Start with mindset. Specifically, start with gratitude journaling.
Why Mindset Comes First
When I first dipped my toes into wellness, I thought it was all about the physical stuff—working out, eating clean, taking vitamins. And while those things do matter, here’s what I realized FAST:
👉 If your mindset isn’t in the right place, it’s really hard to stay consistent.
That’s why the very first habit I built wasn’t about food or fitness. It was this simple practice:
✨ Every night before bed, I wrote down 3 things I was grateful for.
That’s it. No fancy planner, no overthinking—just a few honest notes each night.
What Changed for Me
At first, I wasn’t sure it was “working.” But after a few weeks? Wow. Here’s what I noticed:
I started seeing the good in my day—even on the tough ones.
I felt more present and less stressed.
I stopped obsessing over what I “wasn’t doing” and felt proud of what I was.
It built my confidence to take the next step—like moving my body or improving my nutrition.
In other words, gratitude journaling shifted my mindset, and that shift gave me the motivation and belief I needed to build other habits.
What I Recommend When You Start
Whenever someone reaches out to me wanting to make a change, I always begin the same way: we talk. I ask questions like:
💬 What’s the first thing you want to change?
💬 What’s one small thing that feels doable for you right now?
Together, we come up with a simple first step. Sometimes that’s starting gratitude journaling, sometimes it’s drinking one extra glass of water each day, and other times it’s something like saying a positive affirmation every morning.
Whatever that first step is, I encourage them to commit to it daily for 2 weeks. Then we check in and chat about:
✅ What did you notice?
✅ How did you feel?
✅ What shifted?
Once that first habit starts to stick, we look at adding one more small step—building slowly, intentionally, and in a way that feels good and sustainable.
Why This Works
This approach works because it’s not overwhelming. It meets you exactly where you are, and it proves to you—day by day—that small steps really do add up. 💫
The best part? These habits are foundational. Once your mindset starts to shift, adding in things like movement, nutrition, and other wellness routines feels so much easier and more natural.
My Encouragement to You 💛
If you’re just starting your wellness journey—or if you’re feeling stuck—I challenge you to start here. Don’t stress about getting it “perfect.” Just grab a notebook (or even a sticky note) and list 3 things you’re grateful for tonight. Or choose your own first step—whatever feels doable.
Stick with it for 2 weeks and watch what shifts. 💫
And if you’re looking for more detailed help, connect with me! I love helping women figure out where and how to start. Even if you’ve already begun your journey but feel like you need more guidance or support, don’t hesitate to reach out. 💬 I’m always here to chat and brainstorm your next best step.
Let’s Chat
Have you tried gratitude journaling before? Or is there another small step that’s made a difference for you? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your experience and swap ideas. 💬
Big hugs,
Erin
