More Small Steps to a Healthy You
Posted by Scott V Watkins, MD
Plan Your Meals, Avoid Negativity, Breathe Deeply
In my last article, we talked about a few easy daily habits that can help you increase movement without putting a strain on your time.
But there are so many other small steps you can take that can go a long way in boosting your physical and mental health.
Here are just a few more of them (that also don’t gobble up your time):
- Plan your meals: This is huge. When we don’t have a plan, we are stuck with last-minute decisions, such as going through a drive-thru and picking up a burger, or simply grabbing whatever is convenient. Planning and packing your lunch will save money and calories. And help you avoid that doughnut!
- Eat at home: I consider eating out to be a treat, and like most “treats,” it’s meant to be savored occasionally. Whether you choose a fast-food chain or a high-end restaurant, you will consume more calories, salt, and fat than if you eat at home. We have previously discussed portion sizes at restaurants, and remember: you don’t need a 16-ounce steak (or even a 12-ounce)! When cooking at home, you control the ingredients and can better ensure quality, portion size, and the use of whole foods for yourself and your family.
- Make better choices: Take the stairs, go for a walk, and choose the apple. These small choices every day will significantly improve your overall health in time.
- Avoid negativity: Anger, resentment, envy, and negativity all affect the person feeling those emotions, and essentially NEVER affect the person or situation they are directed toward. Much like not planning can leave us vulnerable to poor decisions, negative emotions can derail the best-laid plans. Take a deep breath before speaking: Thinking before talking is a simple action that can work wonders in helping you appropriately phrase a response (and avoid quick words that can cause a great deal of harm). It also lets the person you’re speaking with know that you feel what they’re saying is important.
- Measure how you’re doing: To accurately assess any progress or change, you must measure it. At work, we measure inventory, sales records, and profits, patient wait times, the number of cars sold, etc. The same is true of ourselves. I personally recommend weighing yourself every day. I don’t believe judging your fitness goals by how your clothes fit is accurate enough. Imagine telling your boss you “think” sales are good. Knowing is much better than just believing!
More Small Steps to a Healthy You
Essential Vitamins
Plan Your Meals, Avoid Negativity, Breathe Deeply
