August is National Wellness Month, a time to focus on creating healthy habits and prioritizing your well-being. For those living in rural communities, wellness can look a little different—but it’s just as important.

Whether you’re caring for a family, working long hours, or simply trying to stay healthy with fewer local options, National Wellness Month is a great opportunity to make small changes that can have a lasting impact.

What Wellness Means in a Rural Community

Wellness goes beyond just avoiding illness. It’s about caring for your body, your mind, and your community. For rural residents, wellness might include finding time for physical activity despite long workdays, learning about nutrition with limited grocery options, or making space for mental health when resources feel scarce.

National Wellness Month is a reminder that even with fewer options, you can still make powerful choices to support your health.

5 Rural-Friendly Ways to Prioritize Wellness

Here are a few practical ways to focus on wellness—right here at home:

Take Advantage of Local Care
Use your community hospital for screenings, immunizations, and wellness visits. We’re close by and ready to help.

Move Naturally
Physical activity doesn’t require a gym. Farming, walking gravel roads, gardening, or even dancing in the kitchen all count.

Stay Hydrated in the Heat
August can be brutally hot in rural areas. Water first, soda second!

Talk to Someone You Trust
Mental health matters. If professional support feels far away, start by talking to your primary care provider or someone in your circle.

Make One Healthy Food Swap
Small changes—like swapping white bread for whole grain, or soda for iced tea—add up over time.

Mental Health Matters Here, Too

In rural communities, mental health is often overlooked—but it’s just as important as physical health. If stress, isolation, or burnout are weighing on you, please don’t wait to seek support.

You’re not alone—and it’s okay to ask for help.

Rural Health Is Community Health

In rural areas, health and wellness often have strong ties to the community. Neighbors check in on each other, families look out for loved ones, and small efforts can ripple out to make a big impact. National Wellness Month is a great time to encourage conversations about health, share local resources, and remind one another that good health is possible—and worth prioritizing.

A Reminder: Small Towns, Big Wellness Goals

You don’t need a fancy gym or a big city specialist to take care of yourself. All it takes is one small step—today, and again tomorrow. Celebrate National Wellness Month by doing something for your health, however small it might seem.

In rural communities, we look out for each other. Let’s keep looking out for our health, too.