I’ve spoken about the power of making small ‘doable’ changes to your daily patterns, and how these changes can add up to massive improvements to your health over time.
But what you don’t often see is an actual list of those changes.
That’s what I want to do here…
If you can incorporate one or several of these changes, you will start to see benefits over the long haul…and let’s face it…we all want to be in this for the long haul!
Here we go:
- Switching from commercial bread to Lavash or some other healthy bread option.
For many people, the thought of giving up bread is horrifying! But, with a slight change, you can still indulge your bread craving while improving your health.
Switching to wraps (Lavash style flax and oat bran or Ezekiel bread) will decrease your ‘exposure’ to wheat based products and commercial breads.
- Switch from milk chocolate to dark chocolate.
You don’t have to go “all in” and buy the 80%+ cocoa version…you can always work your way up to that. But…
The benefits of dark chocolate versus the negative of ‘regular’ sweets are too many to list here, but this is a way you can indulge your sweet tooth while moving in a healthier direction!
- Add fish oil to your daily routine.
Again, no real dramatic change here at ALL. If you are female, target 2 grams of fish oil daily, and males should target 4 grams.
Again, the benefits of fish oil are FAR too many to list here, but rest assured, your body will appreciate the addition.
Just make sure the brand you choose if PROVEN to be contaminant free. It will say so on the label.
- Start going to bed 15 minutes earlier, and getting up 15 minutes earlier.
So…what are you going to do with this time?
First of all, you will likely sleep better. Second, eventually, you will be able to carve out time to either add exercise to your morning routine, or simply add a positive morning ritual such as meditation, journaling, prayer, or reading motivational writings. This is how you OWN the day!
No matter what you do with this time, remember that the hours of sleep BEFORE midnight are twice as valuable as the ones after midnight.
- Add a couple of deep breathing minutes to your day.
This one couldn’t be any easier to add. Heck, you’re going to be breathing anyway! You may as well slow it down, and become aware of your heart rate and levels of relaxation while you’re doing it.
Try downloading the app called “Breath Deep” and set it for 3 minutes.
You will lower your blood pressure, lower your stress levels and maybe live a little longer! 🙂
- Drink one less glass of alcohol per week.
Yup. Just one. Sure you can cut back more, but taking this long-term slow approach will bring with it greater compliance. Reducing your alcohol intake will reduce your body weight over time, AND contribute to your new, healthy lifestyle.
- Alternate your walking pace.
Again…easy-peasy. You’re going to be walking anyway! By alternating your pace from fast to slow, you challenge your cardio-vascular system more and, with time, end up with a healthier heart!
Strive to add slightly to your distance walked each day.
Fact: People who walk, live longer than those who don’t, and people who walk QUICKLY live longer still.
There you go. Seven simple things that will LITERALLY take no extra time to complete. You don’t have to try all of them…just pick and choose and go from there.
Small CONVENIENT changes beat the heck out of changes you can’t stick with!
New Habits start this way…