Making Wellness Part of Your Life in 2016

Many of us share a common New Year’s tradition to set wellness goals for improved health.  Below are some successful strategies for change.
How to Successfully Make Changes
If you want to make changes, the first step is to set a realistic goal.  Your goal must be important enough to motivate you and clear enough that you can visualize it. For example, a goal of “try to get healthier” is too general. You have to be clear on where you’re going in order to get there.  Here are a few examples:
• Improve my strength, balance, and stamina by exercising three times per week for at least 20 minutes. The smaller steps to achieve this goal may be to walk instead of taking the elevator, get on an exercise bike for 10 minutes, or attend an exercise class. Even if you only have five minutes right now; accept where you are today; do a tiny bit more tomorrow.
• Lose 10 pounds.  Exercise and weight loss are frequent goals that go together.  A realistic plan for weight loss is to write down everything you eat, determine how to modify with healthier options, and make one healthier choice each day.
• Increase social interaction by attending one social function each week. Social interaction often leads to laughter.  Laughter strengthens the immune system, boosts energy, diminishes pain, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you alert.
Stay on Track
Once you have a realistic goal you can visualize, here are suggestions to stay on track:
1. Write your goal down and post it in a visible location. If you cannot visualize yourself with your goal successfully achieved, revise your goal so you can.
2. Break your goal into small, measureable steps to know you are on track. For example, “Attend yoga class weekly.”
3. Find support. Making changes is hard. Making changes alone is harder. Find someone with a similar goal and make dates to achieve and celebrate together.
4. If your progress is slower than you had hoped, re-evaluate your goal. What gets in the way of achievement?  Rather than give up, modify your plan.
A new year brings new opportunities for change. Today’s tips are from, Cyntia Drachenberg at Summerhill Villa Senior Living. For more information about how Summerhill Villa residents, families and associates stay healthy, contact us at 661-254-9933 or visit us at www.mbkseniorliving.com.