A 30 DAY WELLNESS CHALLENGE
Small lifestyle changes are often a catalyst for big life changes. I am always encouraging people to make one small change and see how it affects them. It is a hard concept for people to wrap their minds around. I sometimes need reminders myself and recently had a big light bulb moment in my own life of how true this can be.
I gave up gluten for 30 days because of some stomach and skin issues I was having. I had heard that more and more people were having gluten sensitivities and that many people suffer from “wheat belly” and do not even realize that they feel awful because the way wheat is processed in the foods we eat.
I was really not excited about this but with my face breaking out at the age of 38 and having stomach aches all the time…it was definitely worth a try. I tried to keep an open mind and experiment with gluten free recipes. In the end I realized that I felt so much better off the gluten that it was totally worth the change of diet and I plan to make limiting gluten a permanent lifestyle change.
What I was not expecting was that making this one change in my life would have a domino effect that it did in other areas. I’m thrilled that my face has cleared up and my stomach no longer aches on a daily basis. But I have also learned so much more by allowing myself to go through this process.
For 30 days I really had to pay attention to what situations I would normally, mindlessly eat or drink things that are bad for me (not just because of the gluten). I started noticing all the times I would have had a beer, a cookie, a slice of pizza or a piece of garlic bread. It was a constant daily effort to say no to the things I would normally mindlessly eat and drink just because it had become a habit. Like most people, I would “reward” myself with food or drink during or after a stressful day. What I did not fully realize was that it was actually making me feel worse and giving me less energy.
I had to find other outlets for stress during the 30 days. I started exercising more, reading more and talking to my husband about my stressors. I began drinking water and herbal tea at night and ditching the after work cocktail. I also started playing more with my kids because my energy was increasing in general. Not only did I start feeling physically better, I started feeling better emotionally and more connected to the people I care about.
I’m not suggesting that everyone needs to give up gluten. But for most of us, there is a small change we could make that would trigger some big improvements in life. I challenge everyone who is looking for a jump start to leading a happier life to pick ONE small thing to change or try. Stick to it for 30 days and notice what happens in your life. Below is a list of things you could consider trying (just pick one or come up with your own). I would love to hear about what you decided to change and how it impacted your life. Feel free to post about it on our Facebook page or in our comment section.
GOOD LUCK AND LIVE WELL☺
- Drink 8 glasses of water a day for 30 days.
- Stay off social media or TV for 30 days.
- Go on a 30 minute walk everyday for 30 days.
- Write in a journal once a day for 30 days.
- Compliment your spouse once a day for 30 days.
- Play one 15 minute game with your kids each day for 30 days.
- Eat a salad for lunch every day for 30 days.
- Meditate for 5 minutes a day for 30 days.
- Do a random act of kindness everyday for 30 days.
- Write down three positive things that happen each day for 30 days.
Maggie Bagley is a licensed clinical social worker who has extensive experience working with children with Autism, ADHD, anxiety and behavioral disorders. She is a therapist and owner at One Counseling and Wellness.
