To say wellness is big right now would be the ultimate understatement. By the end of 2023, the UK’s health and wellness industry is estimated to hit £30.6 billion in value, and that’s just the start. From sleep and skin to diet and fitness routines, staying well has become big business.

But with so many products and sources of information out there, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Staying well shouldn’t be a full-time job – after all, what’s the point in being well if you never have the time to enjoy it – but sometimes, it can feel like you need more than 24 hours in the day to fit in all the rituals, routines and ‘hacks’ out there.

That’s not just tiring, it’s unachievable – and failing to tick off all those activities can leave you feeling guilty and plain old rubbish (which, by the way, is the complete opposite to how we want our wellness routines to leave us feeling).  

However, although it may not feel like it, there are ways to make things simpler and more enjoyable – one of which is the ‘three block’ method. Devised by Kate MacGowan – a life coach at the employee wellbeing platform Juno – this wellbeing method allows you to really focus on the things that make a difference to you and your wellness.

“The only ‘right’ routine is the one that works best for you and your individual circumstances – and that’s unlikely to be anything which is overly prescribed by someone else,” MacGowan tells Strong Women. “When routines are realistic and flexible, they can help us to feel grounded, create healthy habits and stay on track to achieving our goals – and that’s where wellbeing blocks can help.”

So, what is the three-block method – and how can you use it to fine-tune your wellness routine? We asked MacGowan to talk us through it all. 

You don’t need a complicated, 20-step routine to stay well – and the three-block method is all about stripping away those unnecessary steps that take up time and effort and spending time focusing on the things that will make a difference.

“This method is designed to help you build healthy, stripped-back routines based around three categories or ‘blocks’: movement, focus and nourishment,” MacGowan explains.

“The aim is to dedicate some time to each of the blocks every day – they’re intentionally broad so that the things you choose to do and the time you choose to spend on them can flex in line with your other commitments.” 

To get started, all you need to understand is what the three blocks cover. Then, you can slot in any activities or habits you find helpful or beneficial. Just remember not to overload yourself, we’re going for simplicity here.

As MacGowan has already mentioned, the three blocks are intentionally broad wellness categories that you can use to simplify and streamline your routines.

They are: movement, focus and nourishment.  

Movement

The first block, movement, is basically what it says on the tin. It’s any kind of movement that makes you feel good and helps you to reap the benefits of exercise.

“The importance of daily exercise is well documented, but this doesn’t mean we have to do a five-mile run every day to be healthy,” MacGowan says.

“Instead, aim for whatever form of movement works for you, depending on how you feel and what you have time for on any given day. For example, one day you may opt for a HIIT class, while the next day you might simply walk to work instead of taking the bus or have a gentle stretching session before bed.”

Focus

The focus category may be a little more vague, but it essentially means any kind of activity where you’re using your concentration to get things done – like work or study.

We all know how satisfying it can be to complete a task, and this block allows us to reap the benefits of that productive feeling. It’s also great for helping you feel more in control and prepared for the challenges life throws at you.

“Between Monday and Friday, this category is likely to take up a large portion of your time and energy,” MacGowan says. “On the weekends, you might opt for a shorter focus block and use this time for more personal tasks such as reviewing your finances or planning a holiday.”

MacGowan continues: “To make your focus time more productive, you can use techniques such as ‘timeblocking’ (whereby you dedicate a finite amount of time to a task) or pause notifications on your phone.” 

Nourishment

The word ‘nourishment’ may conjure up images of healthy, plant-packed meals, but that’s not the only way you can tick off this block in your wellness routine.

“This block is all about the time you take to nourish your mind and body,” MacGowan explains. “This might mean batch cooking healthy meals for the week and taking time to enjoy them or dedicating some time each day to read a book, work on a new hobby or practise mindfulness and meditation.”

That might sound like a lot, but while all those activities may sit under nourishment, that doesn’t mean you need to do everything to tick it off.

“You don’t have to do them all,” MacGowan stresses. “Spending just half an hour each day on one thing that nourishes you can make a bigger difference than you might think.” 

Looking after yourself is important – but that doesn’t mean it should take up all of your time. It’s easy to get carried away by all the exciting new wellness trends out there, but at its core, wellness should be simple and achievable.

So, next time you’re finding it hard to juggle all the wellness activities you see on social media, remember to take a step back. As the three-block method shows, you shouldn’t need to bend over backwards to stay well – it should fit comfortably into your lifestyle and leave you feeling rejuvenated, not disappointed.

Images: Getty