10 Powerful Minutes

By Linda Smith, PA, MS

As we start the New Year many of us take the opportunity to reflect on the patterns and behaviors of the past year and to pick an area of health and well-being in which to make a change.  What change are you choosing to make?  Is it carving out some time in your busy life for rest and relaxation, changing how you eat, sleep or exercise or managing stress related anxiety or depression?  Whatever you choose, the key is to plan for the outcome you truly want and then to take small steps to success.

Beginning a new habit with 10 powerful minutes a day can transform a resolution that ends up only happening sporadically at best to one that results instead in the transformation of who you are, how you feel and what you’re capable of.

10 minutes is short enough that almost everyone can commit to doing it every day and it’s long enough to create a powerful change.  Did you know that 10 minutes of exercise each day can significantly improve mood, decrease the physiological stress response, increase focus and improve calorie burning?  10 minutes of mindfulness each day, of healthy eating choices, of guided imagery or sleep preparation can significantly change unhealthy habits into new, healthy ones.  It isn’t always the extended length of time that we need in order to make a difference in our goals.  It’s the doing of it, one step at a time, every day.

10 powerful minutes!  Let’s start today!