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January is BlogHer's Month of Little Steps to Health & Fitness, and we want you to share your favorite easy health tip! Click here to see how to play along. And check out all the tips so far in the Month of Little Steps to Health & Fitness series.
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Could a little thing like practicing optimism help you with your nutrition and fitness goals in the New Year?
It certainly can.
Being optimistic about your healthy living goals for 2011 could actually be the catapult you need to reach success. You see, if you make a New Year's resolution to eat healthy in 2011, but you feel certain it will only last for a few weeks before you go back to old habits, then that is exactly what will happen. That's why optimism is so important when (at anytime during the year) you decide to make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle.
Whether you want to change bad eating habits, lose weight, or start a fitness program, choosing optimism needs to be your first step. And the best part about optimism is that it's really a choice you make, and anyone can choose to do it. It does come easier to some than for others, but if we look for it, we can all find our inner-optimist. Yes, you can too.
Are you optimistic? Do you see your glass as half full? The truth is, most of us can only say we "try" to be optimistic, it's not something we can ever really be an expert at. The good news is that we don't have to be an expert optimist to reap the benefits of optimism, and there are many benefits.
This is from the Mayo Clinic, they know all about the benefits of optimism on health.
- Increased life span
- Lower rates of depression
- Lower levels of distress
- Greater resistance to the common cold
- Better psychological and physical well-being
- Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
- Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
It's unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It's also thought that positive and optimistic people live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and have reduced rates of smoking and alcohol consumption.
From TIME -- Study: Optimistic Women Live Longer.
It's also worth noting that the current report identifies only an association between optimism and longevity; it does not actually establish whether optimism can directly cause a longer life. Additional research will have to be done in order to answer that question. But if a sunnier disposition helps promote healthy behaviors like eating well and exercising regularly, then there's no reason not to view the glass as half full.
Okay, are you thinking to yourself that this all sounds great, but my life is such a downer and no amount of optimism can make it better? I thought some of you might be thinking that, and in case you haven't recognized it yet, that makes you a bit pessimistic. But don't worry, you too can be an optimist. I think optimism is a lot like a snow-ball, even if it starts off small, it has the potential to grow (just as big as you want it to). So why not start today and pick just one thing to be truly optimistic about? You may just surprise yourself.
Getting to your health and wellness goals with the help of optimism
The first step to living healthy is finding and using your inner-optimism. And since having goals, plans, hopes, and dreams are the fabric of optimism, start by setting "realistic" healthy-living goals for yourself.
Here are a few examples of long and short term goals for someone who wants to start eating healthier in the New Year. Remember,
