Debra Eckerling (author of Your Goal Guide) reassures us that we can still be healthy during this pandemic.
After a very long 14 months of isolation, things are finally starting to open up. Depending on where you live and what you do, you’ll have a different level of change.
But remember this: no matter what your level of active out-of-the-house lifestyle, any change is stressful. This means that prioritizing self-care … and renewed attention to your health!
Here are 7 health goals you can set for this spring, summer, and beyond:
1. Commit to Work Boundaries. When the topic of self-care comes up, this is always my first recommendation. Set a time to stop working every day … and then set a cutoff for looking at your email … come on, we all do it. While you’re at it, schedule time for lunch, breaks throughout the day, and time off on the weekends. When you are fully present
2 Eat Healthier. This can mean different things for everyone. For some, eat healthier equates to adding a vegetable to your meal … or eating healthier snacks … or fewer snacks. Others may want to set a goal to do more cooking and get less prepared foods. Whatever your food-prep habits, there should be something you can do to up the “healthy” on your eating.
5. Find a Workout You Like. You are without a doubt more likely to exercise if you enjoy the exercise you are doing. Now that nearly everything is online these days, you can sample different types of workouts. You can try kickboxing one week, Zumba the next. Or just do some good old-fashioned walking, running, or biking. Set a reasonable workout schedule … and follow it!
4. Drink More Water. This one always gets me. Hydration is super-important. And I always mean to drink more water, but sometimes get distracted from my water-drinking goals. Set water reminders on your smartwatch, or in your calendar. Or just drink a glass before each meal, and also mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and throughout the day. Figure out what a good water-drinking habit is for you … and do it!
5. Start Meditating. Take up a Hobby. Or Both. Find a fun, healthy activity for your downtime.
6. Remember to Breathe. Are you stressing out? STOP. Feels better, right? When I get stressed out, I allow myself two minutes to feel it, then it’s back to business as usual. That may not work for everyone, but you know how your body functions, so see what works for you.
7. Get Good Sleep. A good night’s sleep sets any day up for success, so stop burning the midnight oil. Turn off the devices while you are winding down at night – the National Sleep Foundation says 30 minutes before you go to sleep. Maybe treat yourself to a new pillow, as a reward for shutting down early. And get some good zzzzs.
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No matter what you do or where you work (from home, office, or hybrid), good health is always in style. Take care of your body … and your body will take care of you.
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your goal guide
A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals
Start with a plan. One of the biggest reasons goals fail is that we often don’t put enough thought into what we really want before diving in. Your Goal Guide by Debra Eckerling starts with that first, crucial step: figuring out your goals and putting a plan in place. As a professional writer, communications specialist, and project catalyst with more than 20 years of experience, Eckerling is prepared to help you achieve success.