Mental Health: Small Steps lead to large successes

The all or nothing approach is a steep uphill battle for managing stress especially with the busy schedules most of us manage in today’s world.   Over the last year I’ve been experimenting with little bouts of wellness habits to see if they are effective.  Not only have they proven effective, but a lot easier to manage when you have small windows of time available to do things for you.  Especially when a little bit of something is a lot better than the failed intention of a big something 

For example:

Movement

Instead of thinking you have to workout for 60-90 min 5-6 days a week, try a 30 minute workout 2-3 days a week

Instead of a weekend 4-6 miler, try a short walk around your neighborhood every weekday

Instead of a 90 minute yoga class, try 1-2 focused stretches every morning

Nutrition

Instead of 1 week advance food prep with balanced meals of protein, vegetables, and healthy fats, try replacing 1 meal with a less processed one

Instead of meal planning out the week and grocery shopping, try planning out 1 new healthy meal each week

Instead of calorie tracking and food logging, try sitting at the table without any distractions for 1 meal each day

Instead a complete purge of all “junk” food, try removing one trigger food from your kitchen

Sleep

Instead of an elaborate sleep routine with baths, yoga, and meditation, try a 5 minute wind down before your desired bedtime.

Instead of buying blackout shades and a noise machine, try leaving the phone somewhere out of reach to charge each night

Instead of trying to break up with your snooze button, try having no caffeine after 1 pm and avoiding heavy meals within 2 hours of sleep

Stress

Instead of breaking up with social media, try one minute of deep breathing each day

Instead of unplugging completely once a week, try a daily 5-10 break from devices once a day for a fresh air and sunlight

Instead of getting a therapist or counselor, try an after dinner walk with a loved one a few days a week