Small Lifestyle Changes Help Us Win BIG
With a fresh new year upon us, maybe it’s time to reevaluate our habits. Many of us have goals for ourselves no matter the time of year but we all tend to have a heightened focus in January. It’s a time of reflection, taking inventory, if you will. This allows us to objectively assess what went well, what didn’t go so well, and how we might use everything we learned to inform our future decisions. Several key things can help us to have a positive and meaningful direction going into the new year.
Mindset matters: Our mindset is everything. How we feel about ourselves either enhances or blocks our ability to succeed. With the right mindset we can feel unstoppable, ready to take on tasks that previously seemed impossible. But without this self-confidence, we don’t fully tap into this potential and, conversely, we can become our greatest obstacle. It’s worth starting here, taking time to get your mind right, looking into what your core beliefs might be (good or bad). Some tools or practices to help you if you are new to this self-reflection can include speaking with a mental health counselor, therapist or life coach. You can even start with just journaling, writing your thoughts down to better assess what is helpful and what might be harmful.
Small changes help us win BIG: When we set goals for ourselves, it’s easy to dream big. But research shows that attainable changes for lasting results come from small realistic habits built and maintained over time. Consistency is key so try to focus on 1-3 very small changes first. When you have those down, add another. Then another. And pretty soon you will start noticing a shift. Some examples of small changes to improve one’s health might be drinking more water, going for a 10-minute walk at lunch, or limiting alcohol intake. As these small changes take root, your self-confidence will grow, propelling further positive change. Then there’s no stopping you!
Short-term and long-term perspectives: Try to have a small, immediate goal in mind, such as “what is something I want to achieve over the next 3-12 months,” and a longer-term goal, such as “what is something I want to achieve in 5 years?” This will help you to look at your daily actions with a focus on the future. This perspective can help to motivate the everyday actions you take.
The big picture: Speaking of perspective, it’s important to consider how we fit into the big picture—how are we contributing to life? This can mean considering our roles as one member of our family or work team or faith community. Are we focused on just what we get from others or are we also seeking ways to contribute, to benefit the group as a whole? Research shows that a mindset that’s service oriented is much more meaningful than when we are only looking out for ourselves. So, this year, seek to be a helper, a listener, a friend. After all, it is in giving that we receive.
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