August is National Wellness Month, a perfect time to slow down, reset, and prioritize your personal well-being. It’s a yearly reminder to check in with yourself, form healthy habits, and bring balance back into your life. This nationwide celebration is all about finding ways to support your mental, physical, and emotional health through small daily acts of self-care. From boosting hydration to fine-tuning your sleep schedule, reducing stress and increasing mindfulness, this month is all about discovering putting in the work that will positively benefit your well being. The best part? Wellness looks different for everyone, and it’s meant to be fun! Whether you’re new to wellness or already have a go-to routine, August is the time to double-down on what makes you feel your best.
Participate in National Wellness Month
Taking part in National Wellness Month can be as simple or as involved as you’d like it to be. You can start with easy and simple ways to join in, or dive headfirst into improving your overall wellness.
1. Start a Simple Self-Care Routine
Use Wellness Month as your motivation to build a consistent self-care routine. Start small with positive affirmations each morning, a stretching routine, and daily walks. At the end of each day, practice gratitude by writing down 3 good things that happened. Other easy and attainable wellness goals to prioritize self-care include drinking more water or forming better sleep habits.
2. Spend Time in Nature
Getting outside into nature influences your physical, mental, and emotional health all at once! Whether you’re picnicking in the park, walking barefoot on the beach, or hiking through winding trails, spending time outdoors reduces stress and boosts your mood. Improving your wellness in Massachusetts is easy with all of our local parks, trails, scenic reserves and waterfront views around the state. Take advantage of the fall season to experience New England’s fall foliage.
3. Practice Digital Detox Days
Turn off TVs, laptops and phones to reduce your screen time and connect with the present. Try a social media-free day, or swap your doom-scrolling for a book one night a week. Unplugging from everything digital, even just for a bit, will help to calm your emotions and ease your mind.
Make your break from technology easier by keeping your mind completely occupied. We’ve found that having a specific thing to do can help keep your mind off the topic of tech and in the present moment. We love a relaxing boat ride to visit a lighthouse or exploring the world-renowned New Bedford Whaling Museum then eating our way around town afterwards!
4. Go Paddleboarding or Kayaking
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind workout on the water. Grab a paddle for peaceful trips on calm, serene waters, like kayaking down Castle Neck River on the Crane Estate in the morning. For beautiful scenery and some lighthouse views head to Gloucester Harbor, or stand-up paddleboard along the scenic coast of Rockport. Get worked up – literally- on more challenging paddling tours like our Thacher Island Kayak & Hike Adventure. Paddle from Rockport Harbor out to explore Thacher Island and its iconic Twin Lighthouses.
5. Take a Mindful Beach Day
Bring a book and pack your favorite snacks for this easy wellness retreat. Lay on your towel to enjoy the sound of the waves as they work their magic cleansing your mind of worry. Beaches like Crane Beach, Plum Island, and Singing Beach offer breathtaking backdrops perfect for relaxation.
6. Try Something New
Get outside of your comfort zone to stimulate your creativity, overcome fear, boost happiness and confidence. Trying something new doesn’t have to be big or scary, it could be sampling a food a friend recommended. Booking a solo day trip or taking a beginner’s class to try out a new hobby are both great ways to prioritize you this month.
7. Try Outdoor Yoga or Mediation
Join a local yoga session in a park or along the waterfront. Go in the morning to start your day off with a clear head or sign up for a sunset session to feel the stress of the day melt away. Practicing mindfulness outside deepens your connection with yourself and nature.
8. Take a Car-Free Day Trip
Reduce your stress and your carbon footprint by booking a car-free summer adventure. Explore charming New England towns like Rockport or Gloucester with Keolis massAdventures. Admire architecture at Hammond Castle Museum or see where history was made in Concord. Take a tour inside the “summer cottage” of the Crane family at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate. All of Keolis massAdventures trips include the Commuter Rail Weekend Pass, so you can enjoy unlimited rides aboard the Commuter Rail for the entire weekend of your tour. Hop aboard the Commuter Rail to explore outside of Boston, visiting local beaches and enjoying the fresh-caught delicious-ness that awaits you in local seafood shacks.
9.Visit a Local Farmers Market
Support local farms and fill your plate with fresh, nourishing foods. In-season produce is packed with vitamins and nutrients, perfect to support all your wellness goals! Many towns in Massachusetts host weekly farmers markets with fruits, veggies, baked goods and even wellness products like herbal teas. Cook a wholesome meal and savor the taste of your locally-sourced goodies.
10. Plan a Wellness Day
Whether it’s a day out with friends that you’ve been wanting to spend time with or a night in at home, planning something to look forward to is great for your mental health. Plan a Boston summer day trip or get all your DIY spa-at-home products ready – even one day set aside for things you enjoy can reset your energy, making you feel better emotionally and wake up feeling better rested the next day!
Celebrate Yourself This August
Wellness Month is your reminder to slow down and reconnect with what matters most: your well-being. The ultimate goal is to celebrate and support you! Whether you’re relaxing in the sun, recharging as you paddle, reconnecting with nature or all of the above, give yourself permission to focus on you this month. A few small changes can add up to big results, especially when you commit to yourself for 31 days straight! Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you.
Ready to treat yourself to a summer day trip in the name of wellness? Explore car-free summer adventures with Keolis massAdventures, perfect for day-trippers looking to turn wellness into a weekend ritual.
