Sometimes the hardest part of any journey is the beginning. It is easy to get distracted with research and choosing the best options, and it is easy to focus on where you want to be and to get discouraged because you’re not there yet. But the truth is that if you don’t start somewhere, you will never get anywhere. 

Here are 10 first steps that can be your beginning. They are so small you won’t even notice you are adding them to your day. Start with one thing, and promise yourself that you will do that one thing. Do it every day. If you miss a day, forgive yourself and do it the next day. Consistency is more important than perfection. This slight shift in your mindset will help you course-correct if you get off track, and that’s important because LIFE happens to all of us. No one can be perfect all the time, and you don’t have to let that get in the way of your goal. Remember that it takes about a month to form a new habit, so give yourself time! As you integrate keeping this promise to yourself every day, you will find that you can add other promises as well, and you will be able to look back on the foundation you’ve built for yourself. 

1. Drink a glass of water when you wake up.

2. Take a fifteen minute brisk walk when you wake up.

3. Wake up fifteen minutes earlier than usual.

4. Eat two servings of vegetables with dinner.

5. Go to bed at the same time every night.

6. Spend three minutes quietly, just breathing and being grateful.

7. Do 10 squats or jumping jacks every time you go to the bathroom.

8. Drink water with your meals and snacks instead of anything else. 

9. Say to yourself, out loud, every morning, “I am worthy of love and health.”

10. Eat a single piece of fruit for a snack instead of anything else. 

The things on this list take fifteen minutes or less. They may require a slight bit of planning, but they do not require anything extensive. They do not require equipment or research. They may look small, but they can each open the door to a habit that can take your health to the next level. There is always something new to learn. 

Achieving small goals builds momentum. Keeping one promise to yourself daily for your health gives you a starting point, and allows you to build your habits, and your willpower, and your faith in yourself. When you are ready to look for extra support or deeper education or a larger goal, TruBalance is here to help you. You can call for a virtual appointment. You can join the TRIBE monthly membership and get a cookbook packed full of tips and healthy recipes. You can take the Lifestyle Mastery for Health e-course. Once you’ve made that start, there are many ways to keep going, and you are worth it!