How to Create a Mindful Wellness Practice That Works for You

Introducing ‘Rachfulness’ – A Personal Mindful Wellness Practice

Meet Rachfulness – my own mindful wellness ritual. Designed for me, by me. Because and wellness routines are not one-size-fits-all.

If you’re not a morning person, the 5am Club – which aims to revolutionise your morning routine to maximise productivity, health, and serenity – probably won’t work for you. Trying to fit into someone else’s regimen is like wearing shoes that are a size too small. It chafes, and eventually you give up.

What is Rachfulness?

Rachfulness is my unique spin on mindfulness and wellness – a name that blends my nickname, “Rach,” with “mindfulness” and “wellness.” It’s more than just a mindful morning routine – it’s an individualised wellness ritual that is grounding and nourishing for body, mind, and spirit. A treat, to savour, and relish.

Think of it as a personalised wellness ritual, a rhythm of intentional living, where presence meets self-care in a way that feels natural and sustainable. It’s a daily wellness habit that genuinely works for me.

What My Rachfulness Ritual Includes

• Sunrise beach walks with my Labradors – barefoot, toes in the sand

• Morning yoga – either a stretchy-flexy sequence or a slow soulful flow

• A short meditation session

• Hydration – I aim for five large glasses (around 1¼ litres) of water before 10am

• A healthy breakfast – muesli, yoghurt, and fresh fruit (sorry, peanut butter toast!)

• Reflection on the day ahead – not journaling, but setting an intention or two

• Conversations – and connections – with friends and family overseas

• And always, plenty of ‘Labrador love’, and a slower, more mindful pace

Sunrise walks at Currimundi Beach

Where and When I Practise Rachfulness

Rachfulness is mostly a weekday ritual, starting around 5am (a bit later in winter) and lasting 2–3 hours, depending on my commitments.

Most mornings begin at Currimundi Beach – a beautiful stretch near my home on the Sunshine Coast where the Labradors can stroll and sniff offleash, and I can soak in the sunrise, hunt for Love Rocks (more on that another day), find inspiration, and prepare for the day ahead.

Yoga and mindfulness practice follow, either in my home studio – which doubles as my professional yoga studio for Sunsara Yoga – or on our outdoor terrace overlooking the canal during warmer months. My two lovely Labradors are banished from the studio when I teach classes, but they bundle in with me when home practice is underway and either watch, or distract me.

After yoga comes a brief meditation, breakfast, a shower, and then I shift into work mode for my Public Relations, Communications, and Content Marketing agency, Sass.

Yoga Class Planning Under Supervision

Weekend Rachfulness – Looser but Still Intentional

Weekends look a little different. I sleep in a bit, swap home yoga for teaching studio classes, and take my dogs for more casual neighbourhood strolls. I often skip meditation or reflection, and yes – peanut butter toast is back on the menu.

The structure of Rachfulness may flex, but its essence remains – a commitment to self-care, movement, connection, and intention.

How Rachfulness Came to Be

Rachfulness was born out of necessity. After experiencing a significant psychological setback, I leaned on the practices that grounded me: yoga, spending time with my dogs, and beach walks.

Being a typical Aries – action-oriented and passionate – I chose to lean in, not opt out. I amplified the wellness rituals that helped me feel whole. I stitched them into a supportive daily rhythm. And that’s how Rachfulness – my mindful morning routine – came to life.

Create Your Own Wellness Ritual

Now, just because my ritual starts at 5am with yoga, Labradors, and beach walks doesn’t mean yours should. That’s the point: your wellness ritual should fit you. They’re your daily wellness habits to create, own and adjust.

Tips for Designing Your Own Mindful Ritual

• Start with what you love – reading, painting, cycling, gardening, singing, stretching – whatever lights you up

• Be realistic about your schedule – don’t plan for 5am if your mornings are chaotic or you’re a night owl

• Keep it consistent – create ritual by doing it at the same time each day or on specific days (e.g. “Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7pm, I’ll take 20 minutes to sketch or journal”). Putting it in your calendar may help

• Choose what’s accessible – don’t plan daily beach walks if the beach is 40 minutes away

• Start small – five minutes of breathing or stretching can be enough to begin

• Buddy up – recruit a friend or a loved one who shares your passion to be part of your ritual (At Sunsara we offer students a 'Bring A Friend Bonus': if you introduce a friend to the class, you both receive a half-price class – just saying!) 

• Build in joy, and maybe a reward – a ritual should feel like a gift to yourself, not another task on the to-do list. What will you gift yourself at the end of your morning jog around the block, for example ? A good coffee, perhaps?

• Include a grounding element – something to centre you (breathing, stillness, gentle movement, nature)

• Refine or rethink your ritual, if it’s not working for you. If the timing isn’t right (you’re too tired for a swim at the end of the day), or something you were once passionate about has lost its shine, how can you adjust or approach things differently?

• Be flexible – life happens. The ritual can bend without breaking.

Final Thoughts – Find Your Flow

Wellness isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about showing up for yourself, in a way that’s sustainable and sincere. Whether your ritual involves movement, stillness, creativity or connection, the goal is to feel more present, more nourished, and more ‘you’.

Creating a daily self-care routine doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to form a habit – anything from a few weeks to a several months before it starts to feel automatic. But don’t stress the timeline – progress matters more than perfection.

Rachfulness works for me, and my Sunshine Coast yoga lifestyle. Now it’s your turn to find a rhythm that works for you. Start small, stay consistent, and remember – your ritual, your rules.