Feel Better... Live Better
Strong Goals Ensure a Successful 2012
by Woody McMahon
Your Road Map to Personal Success
New Year's is here. Now is the time to set strong goals that encompass the
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of your life. When taking
a trip, maps or GPS help keep you on the right road ensuring you reach
your destination safely and soundly. In life, strong goals act as the road
map allowing you to better enjoy the journey because you know where
you're going. Goals give direction helping streamline day to day decisions
while making improvements from year to year. Good goal planning followed
by effective implementation is essential for success in any walk of life.
But how do you set achievable goals? How can you tell what is an
important goal and what is not?
Healthy Goals Reduce Stress
There is nothing worse than having goals for everything else except your
health. It would be like starting on a trip with absolutely no idea of how
to get there. Establishing a good set of goals especially at the New Year
helps reduce your stress levels for the entire year. The best way to set
health goals is to identifying four areas that need improvement. From there,
pick the goal you feel is the easiest to improve. Work on that goal for at
least 3 months or until you feel that it has become a comfortable habit.
Once goal #1 is doing better, go to the second one and so forth. By the
end of the year you can congratulate yourself on having made four
important improvements in your lifestyle.
Balancing the Personal and Professional
More often than not, professional goals such as making money or taking
care of kids takes precedent over personal goals. We always lead by
example; so how can you be an effective leader at home or work without
strong personal direction? Don't place your personal goals and dreams on
hold for your kids or job. Waiting for retirement to fulfill your dreams is not
a good idea either. Putting things on hold until retirement will only leave
you unfulfilled and resentful. Even in retirement you want to be
productive, not just busy. Start learning to get the most out of life now
because there are no guarantees that you will be here in the future.
Making Goal Setting Easier
To make goal setting easier, dedicate some quiet time to thinking about
your current life situation. Decide what you like about your life right now
and what you don't. Write down your likes and dislikes on a piece of
paper so they are easier to visualize. Include the dreams you have kept
close to your heart and the vision you've had for yourself "once you grew
up."
Ask yourself if you are living life proactively or reactively. Are you making
compromises in life because of other people or are you living the life you
want? Ask yourself all these questions and then pick four goals you would
like to accomplish for 2012 listing them in order of importance. Pick goals
that will make your life more meaningful or help make you a better person.
Once you have your goals, commit to reviewing them daily and start
working on number one for the New Year.
Would you like to improve your health but don't know where to start?
How about an exercise program that alleviates pain and strengthens your
bones? Do you have weight problems but are tired of dieting? I provide an
easy to follow program without the gimmicks or fads. You'll also get the
education, motivation and accountability necessary to improve your health
while helping you feel and look your best. Please call Woody McMahon for a
no cost consultation, at 703-628-2880 or email to
woody@sequoiahealth.com.
Take Back Responsibility for Your Health
by Woody McMahon
The Current Health Care Crisis
There is a solution to our current healthcare crisis and it has nothing to
do with Senators, Congressman or healthcare bills. You can be a direct
part of the solution especially if you choose to live a healthy lifestyle.
On the surface the increase in heart disease, obesity, cancer, high blood
pressure and high cholesterol would make it appear that good health
is an aberration rather than the natural order of things. Analyze the
situation more closely and you'll find that healthy days far out number
sick ones. Your body wants to be healthy IF you don't interfere by
subjecting it to unhealthy habits. But how do you really achieve good
physical and mental health that goes well beyond just the absence of
being sick?
Beyond Just Crisis Management
It is unwise to just address your health only during a crisis. This is
commonly called the "band-aid" approach to feeling good. Sickness is the
final stages of many missed opportunities to take care of yourself. Lack of
quality sleep, no regular exercise program, poor food choices and a high
stress lifestyle can all deplete your reserves and open you up to illness.
Sickness is the body's only way of telling you that something is very
wrong. In some situations, it may be your body's way of forcing you to
rest. Your body can only take so much stress and strain and then
something has to give.
Taking Responsibility for Yourself
Personally, I would rather choose my rest periods somewhere on a warm and
sunny beach than sitting in doctor's office or hospital. What about you?
The best way to take back responsibility for your health is to throw away
the "band-aid" approach and practice prevention. By not relying upon short
term fixes for long-term problems, you feel better and are able to enjoy
life more. It's your body; it's your health, demand the very best for yourself.
For 2012, choose better lifestyle habits that keep chronic illness at bay
while allowing you to feel and look your best.
Yes, You Choose Your Lifestyle
It was once a popular belief that we had little control over our health.
However, research continues to confirm that your health and wellbeing is
about 75% nurture (your lifestyle) and about 25% nature (your genes).
That means that you have the power to live a long and healthy life based
on the lifestyle decisions you make today. Here are four important lifestyle
choices you can make every day. They will help you take more responsibility
for your health while you feel and look your beat.
Step 1 Stay Active
Participating in fun physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce
stress and fill your body and mind with vitality. Having fun with your
physical activity is more important than the type of exercise you try.
You'll increase the chance of participating for a long time if you make
your physical activity more social. Invite your family or friends along to
Sequoia or the park for a nice walk or other activity adventure.
Step 2 Get a Good Night's Sleep
Sleep has always and will always be important to your good health.
Although experts agree you need sleep, most disagree on how much.
The quality of your sleep is just as important as the quantity. To
improve your sleep quality, take the necessary time at night to relax
before bedtime. No watching television right before bed. Taking a
nap is another good way to increase rest time.
Step 3 Make Time for Yourself
You'll want to make time for your various healing activities. If your
first reaction is to say "I don't have enough time to take care of myself"
then you have a huge challenge to overcome. It is hard to be a good parent,
run a business or be a productive employee without internal and external
strength. Time for yourself, doing the things you love, rejuvenates your
soul. You're going to need support so call on your spouse, friends and
family to give you the time you need.
Step 4 Choose Healthier Foods
The old saying is "garbage in garbage out." Clearly this applies to food.
There are truly no really bad foods but lots of poor food choices. You can
still eat all the foods you love or even crave if you balance them with
fruit, vegetables and a good balanced protein source. It really is that
simple. The more balanced your eating approach the less chance of food
cravings and vitamin deficiencies.
Try these healthy lifestyle changes for 30 days. Feel what it is like to be a
part of the healthcare solution rather than a health burden. If you
need additional suggestions and advice on living a healthier lifestyle,
email or call me for a no cost consultation, at 703-628-2880 or email
to woody@sequoiahealth.com.
