The Incredible Power of Small Changes

Research shows that making tiny changes to our lifestyle can have a huge impact on our health.  Smaller goals are easier to start, and easier to stick with. 

We all want to improve our lives, but often when the changes we try to make are too big, we fail, because the leap is too big from where we are.  So instead of setting large, impossible goals, try finding the smallest unit of change that will lead to your success. 

For example, I went from being a couch potato to running a 5-K, and I started with five minutes of walking per day.  (It took me 18 months to get to that point, but think where I’d be if I never started!) 

Here are some examples of small, easy changes. Choose one to get you started, or create one of your own:

• Cook one meal per week from scratch
• Walk once around the block every evening after dinner
• Once a week, eat a fruit or non-starchy vegetable (like carrots, broccoli or salad) instead of French fries or chips
• Replace one soda per day with an equal amount of water
• Get to bed 15 minutes earlier
• Meditate for 5 minutes each day
• Eat a small salad for dinner before eating anything else
• Pick a healthier breakfast cereal (one with less than 6 grams of sugar, and at least 3 grams of fiber)

Taking a “one small step at a time” approach may seem like too little effort to make a difference, but sometimes, one small step is all it takes.