Back in January I decided to try something different in 2016 when it comes to healthy living goals. Instead of making a big lofty goal, I thought I would try mini-goals for each month.
This year I want to focus on one healthy habit each month. I hope that by focusing intensely on one thing for a month, I will turn it into a habit that sticks with me throughout the year. Here are my:
Healthy Habits for a Healthy Year
January: Drink 8 Glasses of Water Each Day
February: Eliminate Snacking
March: Exercise 4 Days a Week
April: Sleep at Least 9 Hours a Night
May: Only Two Desserts a Week
June: Stretch Each Day
July: Walk 10,000 Steps per Day
August: Eat Fruits and Vegetables at Every Meal
September: Eat a Big Salad for Lunch Each Day
October: Observe One Sabbath a Week
November: Write in a Gratitude Journal Each Day
December: Spend 10 Minutes Outside Every Day
March’s Recap
Confession time: I completely and utterly failed at my goal for March. In March I wanted to exercise 4 days a week in order to improve my overall fitness and prepare for a couple of races. That totally did not happen. Here’s why.
For the entire first two weeks of March I ran a low-grade fever, was dizzy, and was completely exhausted. I went to see my doctor, and she decided to run the gamut of blood tests. Most of the results came back normal (including my thyroid levels, which is a relief since I have hypothyroidism). However, the tests did show that I am anemic and have a Vitamin D deficiency.
Fortunately, both of those are easy fixes with the right supplements. However, it has taken a couple of weeks for my body to catch up and regain a semblance of energy. For that reason, I did not make my goal of exercising 4 days a week. I was lucky to exercise 4 times the whole month!
I was tempted to beat myself up over this and to feel like a complete failure. But then I realized that I can’t fight my body. I need to listen to it and take care of it. God gave me this body, and I am a steward of it. So, I did a lot of resting this month. Which leads me to my goal for April…..
April’s Challenge: Sleep 8 Hours a Night
I am going to continue the theme of rest and recovery this month. Specifically, I am going to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night in order to take care of myself. Because of my hypothyroidism and anemia, I require more rest than many people. I get a little jealous of those people who can thrive on 7 hours of sleep a night, but that just isn’t me. When I get less than 8 hours, I can feel a definite drop in energy level, an increase of stress, and an overall decline in my health. So, April will be the month of sleep.
My Plan
It may seem like a goal of sleeping more would be simple to implement, but it really isn’t! I am finding that it requires even more planning than my other goals so far. Since I know that goals without specific action steps are doomed to failure, here is my plan for April:
- Finish all of my work for the evening by 9:00 p.m. This means that I will have the computer turned off, my clothes laid out for the next day, lunches packed, and shower taken by 9.
- Be in bed by 9:10. I will have my teeth brushed, pajamas on, and be in bed by 9:10.
- Read the Bible in bed until 9:30. This year one of my Goals for 2016 is to read through the Old Testament. This month I will spend 20 minutes each night reading in the Old Testament. I find that lighting a candle, getting beneath the covers, and reading and meditating on the Scripture helps relax me and put other thoughts out of my head that might keep me awake.
- Lights out by 9:30. Then, at 9:30 I will turn the lights out and go to sleep. I am hoping that by implementing this relaxing routine, I’ll be able to fall asleep pretty quickly. Since I get up at 5:45 each morning, this will give me 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Lights out by 10:30 on the weekends. Finally, since I am a work outside the home mom, my weekend schedule and my weekday schedule are different. I am able to sleep in a bit on the weekends. However, I don’t want to throw my schedule off too much, so I will be in bed by 10:30 even on the weekends.
I want to encourage you to think about your health and fitness goals for 2016. What will you do to take care of the body God gave you? How will you focus on your health so that you can love and serve others? I challenge you today to take the time to create a few goals for yourself. You are welcome to join me and focus on one habit a month.
Here’s to a healthy you!
Does anyone have tips for getting a good night’s sleep? How many hours of sleep do you try to get a night?
