Feel Better... Live Better
Strong Goals Ensure a Successful 2014
by Woody McMahon
Your Road Map to Personal Success
The New Year is here. Now is the time to set strong goals that encompass
the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of your life. Using a
map or GPS when taking a trip ensures reaching your destination safely
and soundly. In life, strong goals act as your road map. They assist
in the daily decision making process ensuring a more enjoyable journey.
Goals give direction. They streamline your day to day decisions while making
improvements easier 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? What is the best way to determine
important vs. non-important goals?
Healthy Goals Reduce Stress
There is nothing worse than having goals for everything else except your
health. It is difficult to enjoy your life without a healthy body and mind.
Establishing a good set of goals especially at the New Year gives direction
and reduces your stress levels for the entire year. The best way to set
health goals is to identify 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 take precedence 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 do and don't like about your
life right now. 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, listing
them in the order of importance, you would like to accomplish this year.
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.
This year, 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 best.
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 and making it health-based are the two most important
exercise elements. Allowing your physical activity time to be more social
increases the chance of participating for a longer time. Invite your family or
friends along to a Posture Perfect!TM class 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 and doing the things that you love helps
rejuvenate 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 include fruits, vegetables
and a good balanced protein source. It really is that simple. The more
balanced your eating approach the less chance of food cravings, over-eating
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.
