In recognition that heart disease is the leading cause of death in our country, February is American Heart Month. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following healthy habits for preventing heart disease:
• Pick healthy foods and drinks
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Be physically active regularly
• Do not smoke
It may sound easy enough to implement these healthy habits, but adopting new habits can be easier said than done.
“One of the best ways to build a new habit is to identify a current habit you already do each day and then stack your new behavior on top. This is called habit stacking,” according to James Clear, author of “Atomic Habits.”
For example, if you want to make regular physical activity a habit that lasts beyond this month, try habit stacking. Clear suggests stacking the habit of taking off your shoes after a day at work with immediately changing into clothes and shoes to exercise.
The American Heart Association recommends stacking the daily habit of brushing your teeth with a little bit of movement (like doing five squats). Or when going to the grocery store to park farther away from the entrance so that you can get more steps in.
For more information, contact Clara at [email protected] or 620-365-2242. The Southwind District also has the “Wellness For You and Community, Too!” e-newsletter available monthly.
