Wellness In Progress: May 2025

[itsfi]

Hello, BIC! We have another month of wellness bingo!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and, for this month, we're adding a few new ways to go about caring for our mental health. Some activities are ones that have been part of previous BIC BWell bingo cards; some are activities from past months, reframed in new ways; and some squares include new ways to care for ourselves.

Whether you elect to check back in with activities you've done this month; whether you'd like to work through the activities in the privacy of your own space; whether you're doing this on your own, with a friend or group; whether you've been on here for a while or this is new to you, welcome! So great to have you here!

For more information on how to go about wellness bingo and for a brief description of the activities described in the squares, check out these posts: 

• How To Play / Participate
• Description of May 2025 Wellness Bingo Activities

Spoiler

@ather @blackkitty2014 @byme4u @caitbird @CorgiMommy @curlychiquita @danielledanielle @Mellmars1185 @peculiarzmakeup @PrettyPaint @Samtian @Shosh85 

Apologies if I inadvertently forgot to tag someone. Please feel free to tag anyone I've missed or anyone you think would be interested. 

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I looked through those "Checking in with Yourself" questions and wow, some of those are pretty tough. I don't know that I would want to process through all of those currently. 

I'm proud of you for prioritizing your sleep. So important!

I'm glad you mentioned the weighted vest. Someone just recommended one of those to me, but I haven't purchased one yet. May I ask - Do you get hot when you wear those (hypothetically, in 80-90 degree weather)? 

[itsfi]

Yeeaaah @PrettyPaint, some of those questions are really easy to pass on; and, I did for many of them, or even the entire list when I first found them a while back. There have been many times when I just answer 1 or 2 questions (emphasis on the 1 ..) 

Yeah, sleep, and quality sleep at that, really is such a wonderful thing, and I value it even more as I get older, which makes it more frustrating when it's more challenging to come by. Fingers crossed 🤞 I can keep at it, at least for the majority of nights during the week, if not the entire week. 

Oh goodness, it's not gotten that warm here but I would guess that the torso and back areas would definitely get warm if not hot depending on how long I had it on and how steep it is where I'm walking. It's been low 50s to mid 60s when I've gone out with it, both on flat, straight surfaces and ones with more of an incline. Tagging @ather as she may have more insight to offer on this.  

[ather]

@itsfi  Great job!!! 

@PrettyPaint  I’ve used mine and it hasn’t gotten that warm here but I do notice my back sweating when it’s warm out. I’ve only worn with a T-shirt or under a jacket but I’m sure you can wear it with a tank top too if your worried about getting to warm. I do find it makes my heart rate higher when i have it on vs no weighted vest. I have a 20 pound and it is slimmer. I’ve used the ones with more coverage for. Workout and I would say I was more sweaty! Hope this helps! 

[PrettyPaint]

@ather That's really helpful - Thank you! That's good to know that you have actual evidence it's working via heart rate. I think I'd be able to handle it if I wore a tank top underneath!

[ather]

@PrettyPaint  For sure! In the cooler months I wear it under my coat and didn't sweat!

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi 50-60 degrees sounds like perfect weather to use the weighted vest. I can't say I love taking walks in the heat. I've been holding off getting a gym membership, but I'm tempted to join one at some point. 

I'm with you on the sleep. I could get away with sleepless nights in college, but a few poor nights of sleep now are so detrimental. I feel like that's one of the biggest things I've noticed about "getting older." 

[itsfi]

While I can see some benefits to getting older, 💯 @PrettyPaint, recovery time - for body aches/injuries, cold and flu, and lack of sleep (and so many other things, lol) - is definitely not what it used to be. 😩😝 

A gym membership can be so beneficial. Are you interested in taking classes or having access to more equipment/weights?

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I think I'd mainly join a gym for access to machines and weights. I have quite a few dumbbells at home, but my heaviest are starting to get a bit too easy. The heavy ones are so pricey to purchase. As much as I wish I could join a class, I'm not sure that I'm brave enough. I think I would be too anxious that I wasn't doing the moves correctly.

[itsfi]

I get it @PrettyPaint! Ummm, not the part of needing heavier dumbbells at home - I am weak; need to get back to being more consistent with weights. But the classes, I understand. For practices like yoga, pilates and even weights and machines in the gym, I've taken a few private lessons before going at it on my own or taking a class. I have some areas where, because of past injuries, I know I need to make adjustments so for me, it was helpful in  that regard, as well as to just get the basic form down.

It does depend on the instructor; for the most part, I've had ones that have been good to work with but have had occasions where we were not the best match. Does the gym near you offer a free (or two free) one-on-one consultation(s)? I know some gyms will offer 1-2 personal training  (usually weights, cardio, machines) session(s) (that often include a short physical fitness eval) and they will sometimes allow you to sub it for a pilates or yoga session. Wondering if that might make a membership more worthwhile for you and simultaneously help you to get a better understanding of what a class would be like or how to do the moves properly. 

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi I'm not sure whether the gym by me offers a couple of free consultations. I'll need to check on that when I make the call(s). I'm still trying to decide whether I'd prefer to go to a close-by gym (much more expensive) or one that would be more of a 20-minute drive (and much more affordable). I've always wanted to try pilates and have tried a couple of videos, but I still felt like I wasn't entirely "getting it." That may be something that would work better with a class or trainer.  

[itsfi]

@PrettyPaint, wondering whether both gyms would be open to providing a 3-day pass for you to give them a try, with the 3-days at your option, of course. That's a hard one to choose from - I generally go for the closer option but price is a significant factor to consider. Is the one 20-minutes away on your way to/from work, grocery store or some other place where you might go with some frequency? Or, does it have parking availalbe or nearby?

Yeah, I did private yoga lessons years ago; I found it to be really helpful when I finally made my way to the group classes at the gym I used to go to. Likewise, I did a few private lessons (I actually did one with a friend) for pilates reformer before signing up for the classes, so I could see whether it would be a good fit as far as the teacher and her style as well as using the machine. It worked out really well - I ended up going to the classes (which required extra $$) until the instructor moved away.  Fingers crossed you're able to get some information and maybe passes from both gyms to help you with your decision.

[PrettyPaint]

@itsfi A 3-day pass is a great idea. They don't advertise it on their websites (they only sell guest passes), but I will ask when I go by. Now that I've read your response, I think I have my answer as to the distance...so thank you.  I really can't see myself driving 40 minutes (there and back) to exercise, so I ultimately wouldn't be saving any money if I didn't use it. I might go that way once a week normally.

I just noticed that the closer gym has a free outdoor pilates class during the summer. If I can convince my kids to go with me, I may check it out. That way, I won't feel so nervous about not knowing what I'm doing! 🙂

[caitbird]

@itsfi  great job with your wellness! That smoothie sounds delicious! I'd like to get into making smoothies more. I love them but I never seem to get it together to actually make myself one 😅

I like your "checking in with myself" questions. Did you find those somewhere, or did you come up with them yourself?

Great job with your screen-free day, too! That's something I'll definitely have to work up to, but I will try to take it in small increments. I am way too attached to my screens most days, and would like to spend at least some of that time on other, screen-free activities.

[itsfi]

Thanks so much @caitbird!

Prepping for the smoothie has been key for me - when I make it has changed over the years, with some years being what I take with me for a commute, other years when I made it at work, and nowadays, it's more either a mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick me up or on weekends, what I make after coming in from long walk. I have a small portable blender so that makes it quick and easy. I also generally stick to simple recipes - this one had a little more than what I usually do - spinach, a tropical fruit, berries of some sort, a few cubes of ice and a little water. I usually have those in my fridge or maybe a frozen version in the freezezr. 

Ohh, the questions for Checking In With Yourself came from the article with a similar title on the Calm blog - calm(dot)com. I liked the mix of questions and that there were differing degrees of introspection that could be attributed to them - some are easier to answer than others. There seemed to be a variety of self-care benefits to each question, whether it's something you answer instantaneously or that you choose to consider for a while. 

Oh my goodness, that screen-free time during the day is a ... challenge. Not just because apps, the internet, etc. can be a good source or resource for self-care activities themselves. I can generally do a few hours at a time, but a full day isn't an easy one to come by. The first time I tried it, years ago, I thought, I'll aim for 30 minutes and adjust accordingly. Yeaaahhhh, I think I was able to do 10 minutes the first time and that was only because I decided to jump in the shower to pass the time. 😂🤣😂  Work your way up to it, and do what works for you. For some, a full day just doesn't make sense or it's not needed. 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  ah, I must have missed that original explanation. Thanks for reposting! I think I will sit down with these questions and do a little journal entry - probably not tonight, as I have too much to do (I have a job interview tomorrow 😰, so I need to get ready for that), but maybe tomorrow night. I think it will be good to reflect on these, and maybe I can make that a regular practice.

[itsfi]

To be fair @caitbird, the questions were pretty far down the descriptions and a bit buried. I couldn't add the link to the page so I just wrote them out; I'll have to figure out something for the next time. 

Oooouh, sending you lots of well wishes and cheer as you prep for your interview and for the interview itself. Remember, you are interviewing them as well to see if it the right fit for you at this time. 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  thank you so much, I really appreciate it! 💜

[caitbird]

Wellness In Progress - May 2025

I got bingo this time (actually a couple of different bingos)! Some of the remaining activities might be tougher for me to accomplish (looking at you, screen-free day 😅), but I'll see how many I can check off for the rest of the month.

💜Wellness at work: we had a professional development day at work last Friday, and one of the presenters talked about, among other things, mindfulness and meditation. She had us all do some yoga breathing, which was very relaxing! I'm going to try it myself at bedtime and see if it helps me unwind and fall asleep.

💜Prioritize sleep: I have struggled with insomnia/a generally dysfunctional sleep schedule since high school, and even medication only helps so much, at least for me so far. This month, I've come up with a new evening/bedtime routine (as well as a new morning routine) that I'm working on implementing. So far, sticking to it is definitely a work in progress, and it's too soon to say if it's really helping, but I will keep trying.

💜Fun in the sun: I am petsitting again this month, and right now I am taking care of my neighbors' cat, a very sweet retired barn cat. Since he is very old (I think he is around 21 or 22 now) and very deaf, he only goes outside when supervised these days, so I have been hanging out with him in their yard in the mornings while we both enjoy the spring sunshine. It's a nice way to start the day.

Here is my little buddy Bailey:

he is the sweetest little old man, I love him so much

💜Speak kindly to yourself: this is something I am continually working on, as I struggle a lot with self-confidence and as a perfectionist and perpetual overthinker, I can tend to be very critical of myself. I am trying to give myself grace when I mess up or don't meet my goals, and remind myself that it's not the end of the world. Instead of dwelling on mistakes and catastrophizing about anxieties, I'm trying to take a deep breath and focus on what I can control, and on moving forward. It's definitely a work in progress, but I am trying to work on it.

💜Emotional wellness: this is another work in progress. Inspired by @itsfi , I downloaded the NIH Emotional Wellness Checklist and went over it, taking notes on what areas I can work on improving. Quality/quantity of sleep is definitely a big one 😅 but I am working on the others as well, such as strengthening social connections and building a more positive mindset. Last week was an emotional one for me, as my family got together with relatives from both sides of my family (separately) as well as attending my grandmother's memorial service. It was a really good thing in both cases, but it took a lot out of me emotionally, so I am trying to give myself the self-care and time I need to recover.

💜Arts, crafts, & hobbies: I have been doing a couple of things that I think would count for this square - one is my photography, which I'm always trying to work on improving (I'm definitely still an amateur - I just use my smartphone so far). Documenting the beautiful things I see and the things I love (I take a lot of pet pictures) makes me happy and is a good way to express myself as well. The other artistic hobby I have been dabbling in lately is what I guess you could consider graphic design - making posters and other graphics in Canva. I mostly make them for fun and for personal use, although I do use Canva sometimes for work as well. It is a fun outlet for me, and I've found that it doesn't give me the same mental block and anxieties I sometimes have with physical artwork like drawing these days.

💜Quiet time, meditate, journal, breathe: in addition to my digital "journal" that I write in most days (it's very casual/informal, mostly just daily to do lists, notes to myself and rambling about whatever my latest hyperfixation is 😅), I also was able to sit down with my physical journal and make my first entry in it in...quite a while, which I'm happy about. Part of my new morning + evening routines I made for myself includes journaling (hopefully) every day, so I hope to keep the momentum going with this.

💜Seasonal fruits & veggies: The other night we had a very tasty meal that included fresh oranges/mandarins and roasted asparagus. The asparagus I actually harvested myself from my neighbor's garden (she specifically asked me to take it, as they are away this month and the asparagus will go to seed if not harvested frequently). It was very good, and somehow food just hits different if you grew/harvested/foraged it yourself!

Seasonal - and delicious!

💜Read, audiobook, podcast, TV/movie: I am always trying to get my reading in, in whatever form it might take. I am currently reading The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, by David Grann (who also wrote Killers of the Flower Moon, which I really enjoyed); I'm actually thinking of getting my dad a copy for Father's Day, as it seems like the kind of book he might like.

I'm pretty happy with my wellness progress so far this month! Thank you again to @itsfi for running this monthly wellness challenge, it's so fun and inspiring to see what everyone is doing for their own wellness, and really helps to motivate me and keep wellness on my mind! 💜

[caitbird]

@byme4u  thank you so much! 😊

[CorgiMommy]

@caitbird wow, you did really well.  BTW, Bailey is really cute.