Redefining Wellness: A Turning Point

In the early days of Urban Baker Co., I was doing it all — baking, packaging, delivering, answering emails — trying to balance a growing business with life at home. What made this chapter even more significant for me was that I had been a stay‑at‑home mom for 17 years before starting this business. Stepping into this role was a huge shift — one that required me to redefine who I was, how I worked, and what wellness truly meant for this new phase of life.

At that point, “wellness” felt like a luxury — a nice thought in a sea of urgent to‑dos. But as I started to build a team and learned to trust others, everything began to shift. Letting go of control was challenging, but it became a pivotal moment for both my life and the business. It was then I came to understand that wellness is a requirement for sustainable growth — in business, in relationships, and in life.

This shift shaped who I am today. It taught me that prioritizing well‑being doesn’t mean doing less; it means doing what truly matters with more intention, more heart, and more trust.

Creating Space and Building Rituals That Matter

True wellness happens when you create intentional space in your day for habits and rituals that nourish all parts of you — body, mind, and soul. For me, this looks like:

🌅 Slow, screen‑free mornings where I breathe deeply, move gently, and set clear intentions for the day ahead.

🌱 Movement as Medicine: Whether it’s a walk in nature with my weighted vest, yoga, or strength training with a trusted trainer — thanks to Kayla (@wellness.withkay) and the team at Benchmark (@benchmark) — these practices help me build physical resilience and mental clarity.

🍳 Nourishing meals: I focus on wholesome, delicious food that emphasizes protein and plants, fueling my body and honouring my needs.

🌷 Trusting my instincts and boundaries: Saying “no” when necessary, accepting rest as productive, and giving myself permission to pause without guilt.

By embedding these rituals into my life, I’m able to slow down, listen more closely to what my body and mind are telling me, and return to my work and relationships with renewed energy and presence.

From “Looking Healthy” to Being Truly Well

One of the biggest shifts we can make in our approach to wellness is to move from focusing on “looking healthy” to truly being healthy. True well‑being goes far beyond appearances. It’s about:

✅ Feeling grounded and well‑rested.

✅ Honoring boundaries and knowing when to say “no” — and when to ask for help.

✅ Seeking support from friends, colleagues, mentors, or professionals.

✅ Making space for joy, rest, and moments that aren’t about doing or achieving.

This shift is especially vital for women — for those who nurture, lead, create, and carry the weight of making things happen every day. The guilt many of us carry when putting ourselves first is deeply rooted in conditioning, not reality. Letting go of that guilt is liberating, vital, and necessary for genuine well‑being.

Wellness as a Collective Practice

At Urban Baker Co., we’ve learned that community is the heart of well‑being. The connections we foster — with colleagues, friends, customers, and fellow entrepreneurs — fill us up in ways that productivity and perfectionism never can.

That’s why we intentionally create spaces for honest conversations and authentic connections. True wellness is communal. It’s built through moments of sharing, vulnerability, and belonging. When we surround ourselves with people who are hopeful, honest, and invested in their own growth, we’re encouraged to do the same.

A Mantra to Carry Forward

If I could leave you with one takeaway about wellness and womanhood, it’s this:

“You can build something beautiful — a life, a business, a home — without burning yourself out to do it. Wellness is really about ensuring every ingredient in your life is included. If the main ingredient is missing, the recipe will fall short and won’t rise to its truest potential.”

This lesson, learned slowly and with intention, is one I carry with me every day.

True Wellness is Holistic, Grounding, and Ever‑Evolving

True wellness is about honoring every part of ourselves. It’s about creating space for rest, saying “yes” to the things that matter, and letting go of guilt when saying “no” is necessary. It’s knowing that every bite we take, every breath we draw, every boundary we set, and every ritual we nurture can add up to a life rooted in health, belonging, and joy.

Because that is the health behind it — and that is the heart of what I have built Urban Baker Co. around.

CHRISTINA