Reset Your Lifestyle to Get Results
By Sandy Schroeder
When we think of changes in the way we look, feel, or function, we usually anticipate major efforts, but little daily changes may really be the way to go.
If you would love to be 10 pounds slimmer, wake up every morning well rested, and run through the day with ease, small lifestyle changes might help you pull it off.
RealSimple.com says small changes like choosing olive oil over butter or walking every morning could make a real difference with lasting results. Try these changes.
Walk every day and take the stairs - Keep moving and stand, walk or run as much as possible. As you sit while you work, take brief breaks throughout the day to stretch, do chair exercises or take brief walks. In the evening, stay active. Walk to the park with your kids or practice soccer or basketball in the backyard. Make a concentrated effort to move more.
Rethink your relationship to food - Consider how much sugar, fats and fried foods you eat with pizza, burgers, sodas and sweets. Then set up new menus with different shopping habits. Start with whole natural foods that you and your family enjoy and make food a positive element in your life. Look for new healthy recipes and get the whole family involved to cook and bake. Fresh fruit and veggies, nuts, seeds, fatty fish and poultry can lead the way in family dinners.
Reconnect with everyone - Reach out to old friends, distant relatives, neighbors and co-workers to build a better network. The more positive interactions we have the stronger and more comfortable we feel. Help everyone when you can and they will be there when you need them.
Go to bed earlier each night - Real Simple suggests going to bed one minute earlier each night for two months to get an extra hour of rest. I tried a modified version of this and went to bed thirty minutes earlier each night. Gradually that became my new bedtime and I felt like going to bed earlier and slept better.
Get outside every day - Sunshine, breezes and exercise really can help you realign your day. Walk early in the morning, take brief breaks during the day, and walk or bike after work. Just being outside lifts my spirit and relaxes me. Use the outdoors as your safety valve whenever you feel tense, tired or overloaded.
Take a gratitude break - When deadlines stack up and family demands just keep coming, pause and think of all the things that you are thankful for. A comfortable home, loyal friends and a supportive family are all blessings. Take a minute to say how you feel and reach out to help someone else.
Whatever you do to make your lifestyle work better for you will show results. Give it a try.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Chicago, Ill.