When choosing a wellness practice, we often begin with what we hope it will do for us.

We might want to move more, prepare nourishing meals or make room for rest. Those intentions can be meaningful. But another question deserves attention:

Is there something about this experience that I enjoy?

Recently, I shared photos from Joshua Tree, including a few familiar yoga poses in hiking boots. I also shared simple ways to add more flavor to a meal while keeping it nourishing.

Both brought me back to the role of enjoyment in how we care for ourselves. The setting can add something to movement. Flavor can make a meal more appealing. Company, curiosity, and personal preference can influence what we want to return to.

Enjoyment deserves consideration alongside usefulness and what is realistic within our lives.

Get specific about what you enjoy

“Find something you enjoy” can sound simple until you try to apply it.

You may not have a favorite workout or love spending time in the kitchen. That does not leave you without a starting point.

Instead of searching for an activity you enjoy in every way, notice the parts that appeal to you.

Perhaps you appreciate:

• Listening to music while you move

• Spending time with a friend

• Learning a new skill

• Being outside and noticing your surroundings

• Preparing food with familiar flavors

• Having a few minutes without conversation or decisions

These details give you something concrete to work with.

If music is what you enjoy, you might explore dancing at home. If company matters, a walk with a friend may appeal more than a solo workout. If you like a satisfying meal but have little interest in cooking, simple assembly meals may suit you.

Separate the practice from the circumstances

Sometimes we decide that we dislike a practice when the difficulty lies in how it fits into our day.

You might enjoy walking but find your usual route monotonous. You may like a movement class but dislike rushing to get there. Cooking might feel pleasant on a quiet afternoon and burdensome after a long shift of work.

Ask yourself:

What part am I reluctant to return to?

Is it the activity, or is it the preparation, timing, setting or expectation around it?

The distinction matters because it helps you choose a useful adjustment.

A different route could make a walk more interesting. An online class could remove the travel time. Having ingredients ready could make preparing a meal feel more manageable.

Sometimes, after considering those factors, you may realize the activity itself simply does not interest you. That is useful information too.

Make nourishment appealing to you

Food offers a practical example of how personal preference can shape an everyday practice.

A meal can include nourishing ingredients and still need something to make it satisfying to your taste.

You might prefer roasted vegetables to steamed ones. A squeeze of lemon, fresh herbs, a familiar spice blend or a crunchy topping may make a dish more appealing. You may enjoy warm meals more than cold salads, or prefer ingredients served separately.

Rather than repeatedly preparing something you dislike, consider what you could change about its flavor, texture or temperature.

You can also consider the experience of preparing it. A complicated recipe may be enjoyable when you have time and feel frustrating when you are hungry and tired.

Choosing food involves more than finding the right recipe. Your preferences, available ingredients, budget and time all deserve a place in the decision.

Leave room for curiosity in movement

Movement can offer opportunities to explore what holds your interest.

Some people enjoy structure, measurable goals, or practicing a skill. Others appreciate music, changing scenery, company, or a chance to spend time alone.

You do not need to choose one approach permanently.

A familiar practice can feel different in a new setting. You might take a different walking route, try a class with a friend or spend a few minutes moving to music at home.

Try one small experiment

Choose one practice you have been avoiding or feeling indifferent about. Then work through these questions.

1. What do I appreciate about it?

Be specific. Perhaps you enjoy the company during a walk, the taste of the finished meal, or the quiet of a stretching session.

2. What makes me reluctant to begin?

Identify the actual difficulty. It could be travel time, cleanup, boredom, discomfort, too many choices, or an expectation that the practice needs to last a certain amount of time.

3. What is one change worth trying?

Choose a change that addresses the difficulty you identified.

For example:

• Keep the walk, but choose a different route.

• Keep the vegetables, but prepare them with flavors you prefer.

• Keep the movement, but try it with music.

• Keep the recipe, but make it on a day with more time.

Afterward, ask:

Would I welcome doing some version of this again?

You do not need to turn the answer into a commitment. Use it to inform your next choice.

Enjoyment does not remove every barrier

Some practices serve an important purpose without being especially enjoyable. Time, money, pain, fatigue and limited support can also affect what is possible.

Recognizing your preferences does not resolve all of those circumstances. It can help you understand which parts you can influence and where you may need additional support.

If a practice is part of prescribed care or rehabilitation, discuss difficulties and possible alternatives with your healthcare professional before changing it.

For everyday wellness choices, there is room to consider both what supports you and what you are willing and able to return to.

Begin with something you would welcome

You do not have to redesign your routine this week.

Choose one experience you could make more appealing: a meal with flavors you love, movement with music, a different route, or time spent outside noticing what interests you.

Pay attention to your response. What did you appreciate? What remained difficult? What would you choose again?

Those answers can help you build practices that reflect your life and preferences.

If you would like ideas for bringing more variety and enjoyment to meals, Resilient Energy: A Nervous System Support Cookbook™ includes 42 recipes, a seven-day meal plan and grocery lists.

Browse for something that sounds appealing, and begin there.

Explore the Cookbook