In a recent article outlining health trends in the US, the president of the Values Institute at DGWB commented that the trends are consistent with the growing importance of health in America.
Apparently it is a primary goal in 2012 for three out of four consumers, even though it is yet to translate into daily routines.
He goes on to state that “It’s not an exaggeration to say that health is the new prestige barometer in this country ˜ meaning that the great majority of Americans would rather be considered healthy rather than wealthy.”
My guess is that, if asked, you would say the same thing; you would put health over wealth (not that you can’t have both).
If that’s the case, what are you going to do in 2012 to ensure better health and fitness this year. Here’s some things you could do to be fitter and healthier this time next year.
- Get up 30 minutes earlier to go for a walk, run, swim or bike ride. If breakfast is supposed to kick-start your metabolism after a night’s sleep imagine what some exercise will do to it.
- Get up from your desk twice every hour to bend, stretch, walk around your office or run up to the next floor and back. There is increasing evidence that people who sit for 8 hours a day at work are at increased risk, so plan to move often.
- Find a friend (or a dog) who needs to improve their fitness and make a deal to meet them to exercise a couple of times a week. Having a commitment to someone else is the best way to maintain your routine.
- Plan a holiday or trip that motivates you to train and get fitter. The power of a goal to get you out of bed when it is cold outside can’t be overstated. Knowing you will enjoy your holiday so much more if you are fit is a good incentive to push that bit harder.
- Imagine how bad you will feel if your fitness and health are worse in 12 months than they are now. And use that feeling to motivate you to get going when you’d rather not. The fear of losing something, in this case your health and fitness, is a strong motivator. Use it to your advantage.
