As humans, we often rely on comparing ourselves to peers to determine our value or quality of life. The things we see our peers doing in public aren’t necessarily an accurate reflection of who they are on a regular basis. But we quickly judge a book by its cover, so to speak. If another human appears to have their life altogether, we can easily experience those pangs of jealousy and discontentment with ourselves. However, we have the power to improve our lives. Even if it’s just by a small margin.
We don’t have to live up to unreal expectations, but we can live healthier lives every day by taking small positive steps toward our goals. “Making New Year’s resolutions to eat better, exercise, watch your weight, see your healthcare provider regularly, or quit smoking once and for all, can help you get healthier and feel better for many more years to come.” (Healthinaging.org)
Because the end of the year is traditionally the time for making resolutions and setting goals, I challenge you to look beyond the typical resolutions to consider specific practices that might actually improve your quality of life in this new year, and the years to come. Start with small adjustments, like drinking water at breakfast instead of juice, or walking a certain number of steps each week. Talk about it with your family or friends. Ask your healthcare providers for suggestions. Bring others into the conversation to gather support and accountability. Don’t get hung up on the bigger picture. Think about what you could have done to make today better. And start there. “…maintaining good health as we age requires being proactive…” -Richard Birkel, Ph.D.The National Council on Aging
Challenge: Write a list of the things you did well this year and goals you accomplished. Write a second list of areas that you were less successful. Prioritize a few areas you’d like to improve in your life and think of some specific ways you can be more intentional to accomplish those goals. Don’t try to change your entire life in one year. Just think about today and commit to a few small choices or changes you can make to improve your day by 1%.
Mini Goal Suggestions for 2022:
- Start each day with a glass of water
- Spend a specific amount of time away from screens daily
- Check in with your loved ones in person or by phone, email or snail mail a specific number of times per month
- Schedule regular wellness check ups with your doctor
- Get enough restful sleep each night by going to bed at the same time each night
- Think about the things you are doing that negatively affect your mental or physical health and find alternative practices
- Brainstorm more healthy mini goals with family and friends . . .
DISCLAIMER: This article contains information that is intended to help the readers be better informed regarding exercise and health care. It is presented as general advice on health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual needs. Before beginning any new exercise program it is recommended that you seek medical advice from your personal physician. This article is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of a licensed physician. The reader should consult with their doctor in any matters relating to his/her health..
