It's hard to change habits, especially unhealthy ones. Shifting your behavior and integrating healthier habits into your daily life often feels like a one-step-forward, two-steps-back spiral. So why is it so hard? We know what to do. Experts tell us we should sleep more, find ways to mitigate our stress, cut out tobacco, reduce or eliminate alcohol, eat healthier foods, and exercise … [Read more...] about Ready, Set, NO! Why It’s Hard to Change Our Habits
MOVEMENT, EXERCISE AND REST
Setting SMART Goals for Success
Whether you're in the early stages of changing some habits to improve your health or trying to keep a new year's resolution on track, it's always a good time to ask yourself if you're setting SMART goals. Our best intentions to create new habits sometimes fall short of success simply because our plans lack thoroughness. They may be too vague or unrealistic. So what can help? SMART goals, … [Read more...] about Setting SMART Goals for Success
Women and Weight Training: Will I Bulk Up?
When I started going to a gym regularly and lifting weights, I remember thinking: I don't want to bulk up. I simply want to be a little bit stronger. Would I bulk up, like the Incredible Hulk? What benefits would weight training, or resistance training, give me? Why should I do this? And how did this fit into my health goals? As I wondered about all these questions about women and weight … [Read more...] about Women and Weight Training: Will I Bulk Up?
Health Benefits of Walking: Is it the Magic Pill?
The health benefits of walking are numerous. Many doctors cite moderate physical activity, including walking, as a "magic pill" for better health. It burns calories, improves cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, enhances mood, boosts energy, and improves cognition. But most Americans don't get enough regular exercise, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. … [Read more...] about Health Benefits of Walking: Is it the Magic Pill?
Messed Up? Using Failure as Fuel
We all flop from time to time, but how can we bounce back and use our failure as fuel? From the time we start school, we're taught that failure is something bad. But failure can be the wake-up call that takes us to the next level - if we approach it with the right mindset. Even recent research bears this out, but I didn't know that this spring when I created my own failure and then … [Read more...] about Messed Up? Using Failure as Fuel
Can I Reset My Circadian Clock for Better Sleep?
With small habit shifts, we can reset our brain's circadian clock operating in the background and affect our sleep cycles and energy levels. In fact, you've reset your internal clock unconsciously if you've traveled across time zones or stayed up late a few times to watch an important sporting game or attend an event. But that circadian clock is sensitive to other internal and … [Read more...] about Can I Reset My Circadian Clock for Better Sleep?