By Susan Lednicky
There is a best-selling book series that advises “don’t sweat the small stuff.” This is great advice in some instances, but it’s the “small stuff,” daily habits, that can really make a difference in your health and lifestyle.
Today’s lifestyle doesn’t give much room for health, but that’s where the small stuff comes in. The fact is, all anyone really needs to do to have a healthy lifestyle is to eat a healthy diet, get active, and avoid harmful substances. Unfortunately, translating words into action is really not easy for most people. It’s nearly impossible for many people to make dramatic lifestyle changes, but even small changes in your life will add up to big results.
First, set goals. Set a small goal to start with. If you want to lose weight, don’t start by saying “I’m going to lose ten pounds.” Rather, consider drinking diet soda or water in place of regular soda each day.
If you cut out one regular soda each day (150 calories), and did not replace the calories with another food, you could lose a pound in less than a month! Many people drink much more than one soda per day, so imagine what you might be able to accomplish.
Second, once you have accomplished your goal, set a new, higher goal. For example, now that you’ve made the switch from regular soda to diet soda and water, you might want to try adding some exercise into the equation. Perhaps you could add a half hour walk three times a week.
Third, write down your goals and keep them where you’ll see them daily. Keep them small and achievable. Give yourself a timeframe, maybe one month, in which to accomplish that goal. Remember, if you really want to make a change, be realistic about what you can do. If you’re too busy to walk for half an hour, maybe you can fit in 15 minutes instead. Don’t think of your changes as too small—be proud that you are making any changes at all!
A healthy lifestyle is made up of many small choices. Visit www.smallstep.gov to find even more ideas to take small steps. By setting small goals and meeting them, you will be amazed at the success you will have.
Susan Lednicky is a Nutritionist with Clark County Cooperative Extension. Contact lednickys@unce.unr.edu or 702-257-5548.
