Concentrate on the Bigger Picture to Achieve Real Progress
One of my favorites sayings is “Don’t major in the minors.” What does this mean? It means that we often spend more time focusing on the really small things and forget about the foundation. You can spend hours and hours searching for the perfect paint color for your living room but if your house doesn’t have a foundation, walls, and a roof, it’s not going to make much difference.
So let’s look at this in terms of our health and fitness. We so often spend hours and hours looking for the perfect supplement or researching the latest trend in wellness before we’ve mastered the foundation. But if you are barely sleeping, overly sedentary, under nourished, and stress out all the time - no supplement is going to fix that.
Here’s what I consider the foundations focus on, instead of searching for that magic bullet (that doesn’t actually exist!)
Sleep
Sleep isn’t just a break for your body—it’s an active process that maintains both physical and mental health. Without it, your body and mind can’t function at their best. Sleep needs are different for everyone but 6-8 hours is pretty typical for adults. Read more about sleep in this post.
Hydration
Hydration is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. It is vital for almost every bodily function, from regulating body temperature to supporting cellular health and brain function. Dehydration is a major cause of fatigue and even mild dehydration can make you feel tired and sluggish.
Nutrition
Are you giving your body the nutrients that it needs to function properly? So often we think about what we shouldn’t eat but I encourage you to think about what you should eat. Are you eating a variety of foods that include carbohydrates, protein, and fats? Are you eating fruits and vegetables and getting enough fiber?
Stress
While stress is a natural response to challenges or demands, chronic or unmanaged stress can lead to a variety of health problems. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, exercise, adequate sleep, and seeking support when needed is crucial to maintaining both physical and mental well-being.
Physical Activity
Our bodies want to move! Are you moving your body every day? Regular exercise, even in small amounts, can dramatically improve your quality of life. Physical activity can look different for everyone. For some, it might be going to the gym and for others its meeting friends for a game of pickleball. It might start as just walking the stairs at work 3 times a day or finding a stretching video you can do online. Find something you enjoy (or at least don’t hate!) and be consistent.
“Don’t major in the minors”
Before you dive headfirst into the latest trend you spotted on Instagram, take a moment to ask yourself if you've established a solid foundation first. When we get caught up in the small details, we often overlook the bigger picture and the greater rewards that come from focusing on what truly matters.
