Small Changes Make Big Improvements
Small lifestyle changes can make a big impact on overall health. Perhaps you’ve heard that losing even 5% of your body weight can significantly reduce cardiac complications and diminish pressure on painful joints. But when faced with lifestyle changes, such as moving more or quitting smoking, it can be very difficult to know where to start. Low motivation, lack of time, bad weather, and conflicting information can make this feel like a very heavy task. The most important thing is to start!
As children, we learn to walk by taking a few shaky steps first. We fall down many times and get back up. Eventually, we figure it out, but most of us don’t walk perfectly on the first try. Pursuing changes in our lifestyles should be no different. We have to start somewhere and give grace for the challenges that will inevitably arise.
When setting goals, it is tempting to think big. However, it turns out that smaller, more manageable goals are easier to maintain. When something is hard, we’re less likely to do it! Making a goal as small and specific as possible can boost our willingness to keep going. For example, if your goal is more exercise, it is likely not realistic to commit to walking an hour a day. Your body may not be ready for that level of intensity when you’re just starting out.
Changing that goal to something such as walking around your home for just five minutes a day makes it more doable. You’ll be less sore afterward, you’ll feel accomplished rather than defeated, and you’ll be much more motivated to try it again the next day. For your best chance at success, make the goal specific: “I will walk for five minutes a day by turning on my favorite song and walking back and forth from my back door to my porch” is easier to follow than “I should walk more”.
Building a healthy habit requires baby steps, practice, and desire for change. Find a place where you can start, and don’t forget that everyone starts at a different place. This is your journey, so don’t get lost in the comparison trap.
