How to Make Your Extra Day a Healthy One
You’re in luck: This year, February has 29 days, meaning you get 24 more hours to make a step towards a healthier life. With #OneMoreDay in 2016, it’s the perfect time to make a change—whether it’s a small one or something major! And you can track your new health goal with #HealthyMe. By signing up for the free site, you’ll get custom articles tailored to your interests, online goal tracking (even for those small one-day goals) and a community of Michiganders who will support you as you become healthier.
To help get you started, here are five simple goals for you to try on Leap Day:
- Spend 30 minutes coloring, reading or crafting. Any of these activities stimulate the areas of your brain connected to creativity and have de-stressing powers that can help adults relax.
- Walk around the block with your family. Spending quality time with loved ones away from TV, tablets, laptops and smart phones helps build stronger relationships. Burning 100 calories in 30 minutes is a nice perk, too!
- Cook a new recipe. There are so many healthy dishes out there, try whipping up a new one at home. Even better, use some of Michigan’s homegrown produce to create something delicious.
- Pack a healthy lunch. It’s no surprise that eating out every day is costly on your wallet and your weight. Bring a delicious salad to work or school, like one of these that you can pack in a jar.
- Call a friend to catch up. You know that one person you keep meaning to reach out to? Give him or her a ring to boost your health. Researchers have found having even one close friend to confide in extends your life up to 10 years.
We’d love to hear how you’re making use of Leap Day—whether it’s one of these goals or something completely different! Share your goal on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtags #OneMoreDay and #HealthyMe and you may be featured on A Healthier Michigan’s social media sites.
Learn more about #HealthyMe by visiting aHealthierMichigan.org/healthyme. Looking for more goal-setting tips? Check out these blogs:
- How to Get SMART About Goal Setting
- The Four Crucial Steps Between Setting a Goal and Reaching It
- How to Set Short-Term Goals You’ll Actually Accomplish
Photo credit: Rainer Stropek
I can’t get past step 2 on the sign up. Can you help ?
https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/healthyme/
Hi Pam,
Thanks for reaching out, we’d be more than happy to help. Can you please share more information about what you’re seeing when signing up? For example, are you receiving an error on the page? This can help us provide better direction.
Thanks!
Naomi
Good ideas!
I started slowly on the treadmill and before I knew it I started jogging to keep up increasing the speed! I have done a 5 K and an 8 K in the past month with a goal of 10 races this year! I am training for the 10 K Bellin in Green Bay! I am almost 64 and my goal is to finish the 10 K with a better time than the very 1 st time I did this – >35 years ago! I have dropped 15#, BP under control without medications and keep up with my active family!