Protein, 30 mins abs, 15k steps
it all seems very complicated...
Humans. We’re fascinating creatures, aren’t we? Our minds are incredibly complex, our bodies intuitively heal and repair themselves, and while we’re all so unique, we share so many similarities. We’re here on Earth for 85 to 100 years (give or take), and I think most of us just want to make the most of the time we have. So it makes sense that we’re drawn to bettering ourselves - and that the wellness industry is booming.
The question that keeps tapping me on the shoulder is: am I doing enough? Could I be doing more? And the answer I seem to keep getting is: yes—always yes.
Lately, it feels like there’s a new wellness trend popping up every other week. News spreads so quickly, and honestly, it can be hard to keep up. How do we know what (and who) to trust? What’s actually worth investing our time and money into? It all gets so complicated. What ever happened to just eating your greens, having a balanced diet, and moving your body regularly?
We’re constantly plugged in, scrolling through opinions, trends, and “new ways” to live, think, and be. I’m talking about all the health and wellness content - 30-minute abs, more protein, counting macros, tracking every single thing we put in our bodies and every step we take.
But I can’t help but wonder - how much of it is really improving our lives? Why are we so quick to believe whatever we hear online? We’re flooded with more information than we could ever properly digest. It’s overwhelming. And honestly, most of it just pulls us away from what actually matters.
Sometimes, I’ll watch a 30-second reel about a new trend, and halfway through I’ve already scrolled to the next thing (which is probably a dog being recued from the pound). Maybe I’ve saved it for later, but before I’ve even done any research, I’ve liked it, shared it with a friend, placed an order, and told my mum all about it. All before checking in with myself and asking - do I really need this?
Let’s take a breath. In and out.
The first time I read this quote by Michael Pollan, it made me smile. It felt like an exhale.
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
It’s just so beautifully simple, isn’t it?
Why do we make things so complicated? Maybe it’s just human nature - we’re wired to evolve. But nature itself doesn’t overthink. It follows a rhythm. It’s consistent. Pollan’s words feel like they belong in that rhythm.
Eat food: Real food. Not something in a packet. Not highly processed. Not made in a factory. Just food. Go back a hundred years and eat the way people did then - fruit, veg, grains, meat (not in excess), maybe a loaf of homemade bread.
Not too much: Eat until you feel satisfied. Not stuffed. It’s okay to leave a little space.
Mostly plants: I’ll just say it again - mostly plants.
I’ve always been drawn to simplicity. It grounds me. It brings me back to myself. Reading that quote made me realise I kind of already live this way. It’s how I was raised. Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder to come back to what we’ve always known.
But I’ll be honest - holding onto a simple mindset in today’s wellness space can feel like swimming through a jar of organic nut butter. You think you’re doing fine, and then all of a sudden you’re knee-deep in a sea moss gel subscription or $100 anti-bloat pills. It’s hard not to get swept up, especially when everything looks shiny and exciting and “life-changing”.
Apparently!!! If I do 15 minutes of abs a day, drink 150g of protein, and walk 10 to 15k steps, I’ll be shredded by Thursday.
Note to self: reset my Explore page.
The conversation has shifted from “you are enough just as you are” to “you are enough if you’ve signed up for a marathon, sleep 8 hours of REM, and hit your daily macros”.
What’s changed for me is how I process all of this. These days, I let most of it come in one ear and out the other. Some things stick, some hang around for a little while, and others fade completely - and that’s okay.
I think, deep down, we’re addicted to making things harder than they need to be. I love learning about a new wellness trend or product - it’s exciting! And if I decide to give it a try, I’ll try to convince myself that it’s “changed my life”, because I want to believe it’s doing something. I think we all do?
But in the end, I’ve found it helps to have my own convictions. Little rules or philosophies that I come back to. They keep me grounded. They help me make decisions that actually feel right for me. And yep, my bank account definitely appreciates it too!
So today, I thought I’d share a few wellness practices that I’ve personally adopted. They’re not always the sexiest or trendiest, but they’ve truly transformed my everyday - and they’re all rooted in simplicity.