Archive for the ‘Habits’ Category
How often do you set goals for yourself? Once a week, month or year? What about
small changes, how often do you think about those? Overcoming small challenges can be just as rewarding as the big ones we set for ourselves.
Over the past week I’ve been participating in The Daily Challenge by Me You Health. Each day you are sent a new task that can focus on any area of your life that contributes to your well being. The Daily Challenge is a great catalyst for small changes that can lead to big improvements in your life. Here are three reasons why you may benefit from The Daily Challenge
Raise Awareness
When you first think of health, where does your mind go? For many people it’s body composition. Your overall well-being is so much more than that. Physical health is a big part of the way you look and feel. There are many other facets that will contribute to the quality of your life. Me You Health explores different areas that contribute to health and happiness. One of the great benefits of being part of The Daily Challenge is becoming aware of the variety of ways that can build a fulfilling life.
Feel Accomplished Daily
Each daily challenge is quick and basic. They are small enough that even the busiest lifestyle can accomplish them. That sense of accomplishment can contribute greatly to your confidence, which is an important part of your emotional health. Taking pride in small actions can fuel your drive for larger changes in your life. Don’t worry if you forget to take time to participate in the challenge for the day. You will get an additional reminder sent to you at the end of the day!
You can also take a challenge to the next level if you choose to. Today’s Challenge was to smile at three people. You can take that task for what it is, or extend that smile to everyone you come across in your daily life. The choice is up to you. You’re also able to share your accomplishments with others on The MeYou Health page, facebook and twitter. Your success can inspire someone else in your life.
Learn Something New Everyday
There is a great network of people on The Daily Challenge website. Many of the participants post how/why/when they completed the task for the day. If you are stuck on how you want to go about your daily challenge take a look at how other’s completed it and get inspired. There are a lot of encouraging words and avenues on how you can accomplish small changes in your life. It’s a great support and a lot of fun to share your experiences with others and learn about theirs.
If you do happen to come across a challenge that you’re not interested in, you can click the pass button and move on to the next day. You can also read on to why that challenge was picked for the day and how it can benefit your life.
The challenges are fun and free, what more can you ask for? Check out The Daily Challenge on MeYou Health today!
Photo Credit: http://meyouhealth.com
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This week marks my four year anniversary of living a cigarette free life. After about a decade of being married to smoking, I successfully kicked the habit on March 18th, 2007.
There are multiple reasons why quitting is too difficult for some people. An excuse I hear often, especially from women is they are afraid of gaining weight. It’s true that cigarettes are an appetite suppressant, however there are many other ways to keep your weight at a healthy level without causing lung cancer.
Here are 6 steps you can take to help you put down the cigarettes without putting on the pounds.
1. Get Active
Start an exercise program. It can be anything you’re interested in, walking, yoga, strength training or kickboxing. Any activity that will help you add to your daily caloric deficit. Then notice how your breathing feels after several weeks of the activity that you have started. You should experience less coughing and an increase in your endurance as the weeks pass.
2. Spice It Up
Stock up on cinnamon mints or gum. The cinnamon helps by giving you that burning feeling on your
tongue. This will also occupy your mind by having something in your mouth other than a cigarette.
3. Enjoy Your Food
Cigarette smoking dulls your taste buds. Start to notice the difference in how your food tastes after you kick the habit. When your food tastes better you can practice mindful eating. Mindful eating means paying attention to what you’re eating, how it tastes and how much of it your ingesting. If you focus on enjoying your food and listening to your body when it’s full, there’s less of a chance that you will overeat.
4. Cut Back On Alcohol
Many smokers associate having a drink with smoking a cigarette. Avoid alcohol, especially in the beginning stages of your smoke-free life. When you drink alcohol your inhibitions are down and you will be more likely to light up a cigarette. If you are strong enough not to break and have one, you may look for a substitute such as a snack to munch on to get your mind off of smoking. It’s best to side step this situation all together, until you’re confident enough that you won’t slip up after a drink or two.
5. Know Your Weaknesses
Certain situations call out to you as a smoker to light up. It becomes an unconscious thing, but you start to associate certain times of the day with smoking. For some smokers it’s right after a meal, with their morning coffee or in the car on their commute to work. Just being aware of these high risk times can help you avoid temptation. Keep some gum or mints on hand and try to keep busy so you won’t reach for a cigarette or food when you’re not hungry.
6. Remember Your Reasons
Keep a small notepad and pen on hand for when a cigarette craving hits. Make some lists to help you stick out the hard times with out replacing smoking for eating. Write down the reasons you’ve decided to quit smoking, if you’re having trouble remembering your specific reasons here’s three to get you started.
- Money Saver. Cigarettes are around $8.00 per pack now. If you smoke one pack a day that’s around $225.00 per month. That’s a good chunk of change.
- Odor Eaters. No more smoke filled scent in your car or on your clothes. Enjoy the fresh smells of your day without the usual cloud of smoke you use to carry.
- Live Longer. Reduce your risk of lung cancer and emphysema. Your body is an amazing thing and your lungs have the ability to repair themselves.
Quitting a habit is never easy, especially one that contains an addictive drug like nicotine. Remember to take it one day at a time and if you have a set back don’t give up!
Photo Credit: http://www.stopsmokingsteps.com
