Posts abound on social media with funny, quippy quotes like “I’m currently doing this challenge called January, where you just try to make it through every day of January”

While they do make me laugh and I can completely relate, I also think it’s important to be aware of how that mindset can sink in and affect us negatively. Sure, we have all been there and had hard days and seasons, and if that’s you– know that you are not alone and nothing lasts forever. We want to be compassionate to those in hard seasons, because we all wind up there at some point.

But we don’t ultimately LIVE in the valley, and if we let that “just try to make it” mindset become our every day, we fall into unhealthy, unbalanced habits and lives. 

I’ve learned in parenting that children rise to the standards we set for them; lower the standard, and that is where they will aspire to. So rather than set that bar low for ourselves, set it a little higher and give a push towards doing just a little more than you feel like doing. Growth doesn’t happen in our comfort zone! 

How can we incorporate small tweaks to our days and weeks that translate into going the extra mile in the long run? These little adjustments here and there can be the difference between “meh” results and DANG look at the progress!!

Simple Upgrades for a Healthier Lifestyle

• Packing your food for your kids’ sports event instead of eating from the concessions stand
• Choosing a side salad every time you eat a meal out
• Drinking twenty ounces of water first thing in the morning to get a jump start on intake for the day
• Putting on your workout clothes right out of bed so you don’t talk yourself out of that morning sweat session
• Prepping breakfast sandwiches instead of hitting the starbucks drive through
• Homemade pizzas for pizza night instead of ordering
• Add an apple a day into your food plan
• Bag up veggies to grab and go
• Swap regular chips for popcorners
• Get outside for a ten minute walk even on busy days
• Before you hop on social media for the day, open up your MFP/tracking app and plan out the day. Better yet, do it at night before you turn on the tv or scroll your phone. 
• Look at your week and determine which nights you’ll need easy meals etc
• Adding a weighted vest!

All of these things translate into going the extra mile instead of always pushing the easy button. If you reverse that list– think of the negative impact!! It would add up really quickly- concession stand foods, fries instead of side salads, less water, missed workouts…all things that we can reverse with small moments of intention on the road to progress. 

If you switch your mindset from, “This is too hard, I’m just gonna take the easy route” to “I can push myself just a little today!” You will feel so much stronger and build confidence! It’s those little things that become our NSV’s and ultimately help us reach our goals!