The Power of 1

Do you ever feel that when it comes to improving your health, there are sooo many things that you need to do?  "I have to eat right, I need to get more rest, I should be exercising, I need to get better at managing my stress, etc."  It certainly can become overwhelming and before you know it, you've thrown your hands up in the air and given up on all of your good intentions.  Then, you're probably more apt to "wait" until later to start making changes or continue with what you've already accomplished.  "When I have more time, I'll . . . when things settle down a bit, I'll . . . ."  But the question is, when will you have more time?  Will there ever be a time when things settle down?  (Believe me, I'm still waiting for that to happen.)  It's easy to put off making changes to improve your health, but can you afford it?  Everyday, your health and well-being move either toward wellness or illness depending on your actions.

Yes, it can become overwhelming when you think of everything that you should be doing to promote wellness, but it shouldn't be a process of "all or nothing."  Studies have shown that even making minor changes to improve your health can have significant benefits.  Lifestyle change is difficult.  Making and committing to changing your habits can be daunting.  Rather than looking at ALL the changes you need to make, think of just one thing you can do today to improve your health.  Can you extend your "walk to work" by parking your car farther in the parking lot?  Are you willing to get up 10 minutes early to spend time meditating or sitting quietly before starting your day?  Will you take time to get up from your desk to have a nutritious lunch or will you eat at your desk or even skip eating anything?  Can you spend a few minutes a day engaging in enjoyable or mentally stimulating activities (e.g., hobbies, interests)?  Will you turn off the TV a few minutes earlier at night to get more sleep?

Remember, it's the "little" things, rather than just the big actions, that add up.  When you think about, it's these small changes that are easier to implement regularly.  What is the one change that you can make today that will improve your health and well-being?