A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. And based on a recent survey by one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies, more than 80% of Americans seem to want to take their first steps toward a better life by paying more attention to their health.
According to the survey, a healthier diet was the biggest priority, followed by getting routine medical care. Reducing drinking and stopping smoking came in third.
Of course, trying to be healthier and actually beinghealthier are two separate things.
People who try to change health habits often attempt to do too much too fast, which can lead to failure – so minor, doable changes are more likely to succeed.
Want to eat healthier? Set small, measurable goals that will help you get to your larger goal.
For example, commit to eating five daily servings of fruit and veggies or drinking at least 68 ounces of water a day.
Want better access to routine medical care? Don’t let finances be a barrier. If you have health insurance, you can get an annual physical with no out-of-pocket costs.
Want to drink or smoke less? If close friends encourage you to smoke, overeat, or drink too much, find new friends who have good health habits you can model.
And be patient – smokers try to quit an average of 30 times before they succeed.
Above all, don’t be hard on yourself.If you overeat, drink too much, or fail to exercise on vacation — forgive yourself and don’t give up.
This will help get you back in the right mindset, which is the cornerstone of taking better care of your body.
