Small Steps Lead to Big Changes

Lifestyle choices such as eating healthy, staying active and managing medical conditions go a long way toward promoting good health. And you don’t have to make huge changes all at once to start seeing results.

Health and wellness don’t only happen at the doctor’s office. Choices you make every day about what you eat, your physical activity, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and addressing health conditions and concerns are all essential to living your best life. And you don’t need to change your habits all at once. These tips can help you get started.

Make a plan.

Wanting to “eat better” is a great goal, but it’s also vague. Aim for more realistic and measurable goals instead. For instance, you might start by committing to eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Then gradually make other changes.

Be consistent.

Building new habits and breaking old ones requires consistency. So, for example, if you’re trying to establish a more regular sleep schedule, stick with it even on weekends or days off. Or, if you’re trying to incorporate meditation, journaling or quiet reflection into your daily life, schedule time for it every day.

Take small steps.

Often there are little things you can do to help set yourself up for success. You might be more likely to go for a morning walk or run if you set out your workout clothes and shoes the night before.

Similarly, you can do things like:

• Prep healthy snacks to help curb the temptation to reach for chips or sweets.
• Set reminders on your phone to take medications.
• Make a list of activities you find soothing and post it somewhere you can easily reference. That way, you’ll have ideas handy for when you’re feeling stressed out.

Lifestyle changes don’t have to be all-or-nothing to be beneficial. Preparation, consistency and small steps are the key.

Nothing herein constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or is a substitute for professional advice. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other medical professional if you have questions or concerns about a medical condition.