Step into Action
Now What Niki?
Last week I challenged you to take a moment to review the health goals you set for this year. A 4th quarter “check up” of sorts. And, I gave you lots of advice on how to refocus, prioritize, assess what’s worked and get the support you need. So…now what?
Well, if you followed my advice last week, you may have realized that you need to get back on track, reel in some bad or destructive habits and focus on your well-being. You may have also realized that you don’t know where to start. Maybe it’s been a long time since you’ve exercised or you haven’t had time to focus on healthy eating since you started a new job or got promoted. It can be overwhelming and scary if you’ve let things go for a while. Where do you start?
Getting on a path to better health doesn’t have to be wrought with stress and angst. That’s the opposite of what we’re going for here – total wellness. A few minor tweaks to your day/week can put you on the fast track to taking deliberate, rewarding action to become healthier.
Take action to better wellness in 3 steps.
Make a Note to Yourself. Wellness starts with commitment. Take 3 sticky notes and write on them “You are Healthy” and put one on your bathroom mirror, one on the refrigerator and one on your computer screen. These will serve as reminders to you and those around you that you have refocused on your health. You will make better choices and be more accountable when you see these little love notes to yourself Use more notes if you need to.
Pick one Healthy Habit. When you’ve realized enough is enough, it’s normal to want to change everything all at once. Don’t do it. Pick one thing and focus on that for the rest of the month. Choose one action that makes you healthier and aim to do it 5 out of 7 days each week. Such as: Pack your lunches (and I don’t mean leftover pizza or a preservative filled frozen meal). Get up 30 minutes earlier to workout. Go to bed 30 minutes earlier to get the sleep you desperately need. Do just one for the next few weeks and then add in other goals.
Keep a Journal. Grab a notebook and answer these three statements/questions every night. 1. I feel good about. 2. I feel disappointed about. 3. I’ll work harder on _______ tomorrow. Then, pick it up in the morning and review. This is a great way to track progress, triggers, barriers, etc.
Obviously, these aren’t scientific breakthroughs or Nobel-prize winning discoveries. However, they are real, proven ways to refocus on small steps that will lead to bigger steps and ultimately greater results for your overall health and well-being.
Want a little more support? Looking for a group of like-minded professional women who are striving to be their healthiest and happiest? Join my 5-Day Feel Better Challenge where we will use these strategies and others to get back on track, one small action at a time.