Considering Wellness

Dear Aspen reader,

It’s a new year! With the changing of the calendar I want to invite you to consider changing your wellness habits as well.  Often, January 1st signifies a time of renewal, so we are already off to a great start with that mindset. If you’re inspired to increase your nutrition, find ways to include fitness into your routine or shift yourself into better methods of self-care…it’s bound to be a motivation-filled month.

But what happens in February when the motivation fades and the calendar is overflowing ? Do you maintain the course by finding new ways to adapt and continue on? Or do you let your routines fall away and struggle to prioritize the time you’ve set aside for wellness?

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From my personal experience even the best of intentions are sometimes not enough. It takes commitment, it takes practice and it takes planning. And do you know what else? It takes the ability to start small. Biting off more than we can chew is typical when it comes to our grand ideas of a better wellness routine. But this year, I encourage you to make a conscious choice to start with simple habits. Eventually those habits will build upon each other and culminate into a lifestyle of wellness that is maintainable.

Start the year by taking an inventory of your current food and movement habits:

  • Create a list of what your diet includes.

  • Write down the amount of time you spend in a week on exercise.

  • Answer the question: How do I manage stress?

Create a list of a few, small changes that you might consider making such as:

  • Eating more vegetables.

  • Spending a little time away from your phone.

  • Waking a few minutes earlier to incorporate exercise into your morning.  

And that’s it. At this point in the year, think about change. There is no pressure and no commitment. Form a few ideas as to how you’ll start small and make a lasting change in one area of your life.  

So, let your mind wander as you make time to think about simple and small habits this week! 

In health,

Alecia

“Start with simple habits. Eventually those habits will build upon each other and culminate into a lifestyle of wellness that is maintainable.”

Alecia Ritzema