What does “healthy” mean to you?

In honor of American Heart Month, we’re asking you to commit to implementing one healthy habit into your routine for the next 30 days. By participating in this challenge, you’re committing to achieving your best health.

It can be challenging to build new habits; however, the benefits are clear. Healthy habits can reduce your risk for developing potentially life-threatening conditions like hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and more. They also have a significant impact on your mental well-being. Additionally, being part of a community of your co-workers who are also committed to improving their health helps to increase motivation, connection, and dedication.

Check out just a few of the infinite options for a new healthy habit you could commit to below and consider signing up to participate in the Heart Month Health Challenge.

• Experiment with intermittent fasting: There are various ways to approach it–find the one that works best for you and your body.
• Eat a well-balanced diet: Consume less processed foods and less sugar and sodium content.
• Increase water intake: The ideal amount to consume per day varies by person but strive to drink at least eight eight-ounce cups.
• Aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night: Sleep is critical to every aspect of your health.
• Practice mindfulness: Meditate, read, be aware of your thoughts, practice gratitude, prioritize connection and friendship.
• Be more active: Go to the gym or workout at home, take walks, try to get up at least once every hour, do jumping jacks while watching TV.

What one habit will you commit to for the next 30 days to improve your quality of life? Write it down! This will help you remember what your focus is and emphasize your commitment. You could even hang it in a place where you will see it every day as a constant reminder. For some people, it helps to create a way to mark the habit complete each day you successfully complete it–this creates positive reinforcement in your brain.

The details

Sign Up February 1-8
Email your name, Kettering Health email address, location, and your healthy habit to HealthyYou@ketteringhealth.org with “Heart Month Challenge” in the subject line. By sending the email, you will be automatically signed up to participate.

February 9
The challenge begins. Start implementing your new healthy habit every day. For the next four weeks following sign-up, you will receive motivational emails from HealthyYou@ketteringhealth.org including inspirational tidbits and health tips to help keep you on track with your goal and provide new ideas.

March 9
Final day of the challenge–don’t give up!

March 9-16
At some point during this week, employees should email their name, Kettering Health email address, location, and the number of days you successfully completed your healthy habit to HealthyYou@ketteringhealth.org with “Heart Month Challenge” in the subject line to confirm that you have completed the challenge.