What are 9 small steps to take to greater health?

Often, we tend to view our health as a final destination, a vision we hold in our minds. However, in reality, it is a continuous journey. When you start considering your health and goals, I urge you not to immediately make drastic changes, but instead take small steps. By refraining from going all out right away, we give ourselves the opportunity to concentrate on manageable and sustainable measures. This way, we can identify what works and what doesn't. You will be amazed at the impact these small steps have over time, as they ultimately result in lasting transformations.

In this blog post, I’m sharing small steps in 9 areas that can help you add to your daily wellness and improve your health

• Nutrition

• Relationships

• Self Care 

• Mindfulness

• Movement

• Lifestyle

• Sleep

• Enrichment

• Career

Nutrition

• First thing in the morning, drink a glass of water, add a little lemon juice for an extra boost

• Bring a reusable water bottle; you’re more likely to drink water when you have it with you

• Think veggies first with meals; prepare your meals by starting with veggies to increase your vegetable intake. Aim for 2 meals a day

• Chew your food; chewing your food is the first step in digestion

• Sit down for meals; allow time to slow down, support your digestion and increase your mindfulness around food

• Practice gratitude; whether for the person that prepared the meal, the farmers or ranchers, showing appreciation for your food can add joy to the meal 

Relationships

• Listen; practice listening more than you speak, give people your full attention

• Lend a hand; aim to help at least one person a day - friend, family, stranger doesn’t matter

• Share your day; spend a few minutes debriefing the day and exchanging stories with someone

• Schedule a weekly phone date; strengthen your relationship with calls, can be the same person or not, but reach out weekly for yourself and others

Self Care

• Sleep;  prioritize this - set a goal and try to stick with it

• Decompress; find time to relax and recharge, take a few deep breaths, embrace the quiet, lie down or meditate

• Flossing; takes a few minutes each night and is a great way to improve your hygiene (and oral health)

• Dry Brush; increase circulation by brushing your body once a day

Mindfulness

• Say a Daily Affirmation; say an empowering statement every morning and/or evening 

• Pause; take a break when you feel overwhelmed, drink some water and/or take deep calming breaths

• Replace “should” with “could”;  empower yourself rather than put yourself down, flip the script when negative self talk arises

• Laugh more; spend time with others or doing things that bring joy and laughter, let out your lighter side

Movement 

• Walk; start by aiming to walk 10 minutes a day, keep the goal easy in order to achieve it then increase when you’re ready

• Get the blood flowing; stand every 30-60 minutes and move around on a regular basis; set a timer if that helps

• Sign up for something new; challenge yourself to try a new activity; you might love it and if you don’t you don’t have to do it again

• Fit it in; look for small opportunities to squeeze movement into the day, example take the stairs, walk your shopping cart back, park further away, if you take the bus or subway get off one block early 

Lifestyle 

• Get a plant; add more oxygen and life to an area, your home will benefit and it’s a nice pop of color

• Make your bed; do this every morning as a simple and productive way to start your day

• Go to bed with a clean sink; do the dishes every night to start the next morning with a fresh kitchen

• Keep a journal to plan your week 

• Get sunlight everyday; Vitamin D is one of the most vital nutrients for health and sunlight is one of the best sources of it

Sleep

• Shut off electronics; 1 hour before bed

• Create a nighttime routine; wash your face, read a book, get your body in a routine and it will recognize it’s prepping for sleep

• Write down 3 things you’re grateful for that day 

Enrichment

• Smile often; smiling boosts both our mental and physical well-being; seek out ways to smile more

• Write down the last time you felt pure joy and the action steps you could take to create more opportunities

• Find an app that is fun and educational

• Seek opportunities in your community to learn a new task

• Be creative; this often combines joy and learning 

Career

• Work check in; take time monthly to write down why you work; things you like or dislike and why you stay or if it’s time to go

• Set a timer throughout your workday to stand, stretch and walk around

• Create a budget; determine what are your Needs, Wants and your goals for Savings

• Start a “no spending” challenge
  

These are all great steps to get started on a healthier path, but if you are looking for more support, guidance and accountability check out my health coaching packages and reach out for a free Introduction Call. 

Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.

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