Top Lessons from a Year of Wellness Rewind

Top Lessons from 52 Weeks of Wellness Rewind

This year has been a whirlwind for me personally, too. I rediscovered a love for running and completed my first half marathon, which taught me so much about resilience and commitment. Starting Root + Renew in Spain brought both excitement and challenges as I navigated a new market and began to plan a major shift for the business in 2025.

Living in Madrid has been full of vibrant moments (and a few grey areas) as I’ve balanced new opportunities, personal growth, and the highs and lows of dating in a new city. All of these experiences have taught me to embrace uncertainty and trust the process, lessons I’ll carry with me into the new year.

Now, let’s look back at some of the top lessons from The Wellness Rewind in 2024—the themes that resonated most deeply with our community. These lessons shaped my year, and I hope they’ve made a positive impact on yours as well.

Lesson 1: Mindfulness is Your Superpower

One of the biggest takeaways this year has been the transformative power of mindfulness. We’ve talked about pausing in the middle of chaos, staying present in the moment, and creating space to truly connect with ourselves and others.

For me, mindfulness became a lifeline during marathon training. On days when my body felt heavy, I turned to small, grounding practices—like focusing on the rhythm of my breath or simply taking in my surroundings. These moments kept me moving forward, one step at a time. It made me realize, that as much as running is physical, it is also equally mindset.

Takeaway for 2025: Start small. Mindfulness doesn’t require hours of meditation or a perfect routine. It can be as simple as taking three deep breaths before a stressful meeting, going on a walk without distractions, or journaling for five minutes in the morning.

Progress, not perfection, is what counts.

Lesson 2: Balance Beats Burnout

Balance was a recurring theme in 2024. We explored how to create boundaries, prioritize what matters, and let go of the idea that we need to do it all. Life will always pull us in a million directions, but balance is about choosing what aligns with your values and saying no to the rest.

Running a business and building a life in a new country pushed me to confront my own balance issues. There were times I tried to play both offense and defense in every area of my life, and it left me exhausted.

Trying not to fall into the American hustle culture that has been deeply ingrained in me, and understanding balance was a challenge. Learning when to step back and trust the game to unfold without overmanaging became essential.

Takeaway for 2025: Focus on quality over quantity. Whether it’s your time, energy, or commitments, aim to give your best to what truly matters. A great place to start? Revisit your weekly schedule and remove one thing that feels like an unnecessary drain.

Remember, every time you say ‘yes’ to something you don’t want to do, you’re saying ‘no’ to what truly matters to you.

Lesson 3: Self-Care is Non-Negotiable

This year, we emphasized that self-care is more than bubble baths and spa days—it’s about showing up for yourself in ways that support your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. For me, self-care often looked like prioritizing rest, finding movement that felt good, and making space for solo reflection when life felt overwhelming.

When it came to relationships, for me personally, self-care meant knowing when to stop chasing the ball and let the play come to me. Not every dynamic requires constant effort—sometimes, the best move is stepping back and letting things flow naturally.

Takeaway for 2025: Identify one area of self-care to prioritize in the new year. Is it getting more sleep? Drinking more water? Making time for hobbies? Choose one thing and commit to it.

Remember, self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential.

Lesson 4: Resilience is Built in the Hard Moments

2024 brought its fair share of challenges, but if we’ve learned anything, it’s that resilience isn’t about avoiding difficulties—it’s about how we navigate them. Resilience is built in the small, everyday choices we make to keep moving forward, even when the path feels unclear.

Launching and then re-lauching Root + Renew in Spain was like playing in an entirely new league—new rules, new teammates, and moments where I doubted myself. But every small win reminded me that success isn’t about perfect execution; it’s about showing up, learning, and staying in the game. It has been about adaptability and embracing the ebbs and flows of life.

Takeaway for 2025: Embrace the grey areas. Life isn’t always black and white, and that’s okay. Trust yourself to make the best decisions with the information you have, and remember that growth often comes from the most uncertain times.

Gratitude for the Journey

As we wrap up this year, I want to take a moment to thank YOU. Every comment, question, and shared experience has made The Wellness Rewind what it is today—a community of people dedicated to living intentionally and supporting one another along the way. Your presence, feedback, and enthusiasm have inspired me more than I can say.

For me, the biggest lesson I’m taking into 2025 is to trust the process and stay present. Whether it’s navigating personal growth, relationships, or business challenges, this year reminded me that progress often looks like showing up, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

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