This is your reminder to celebrate! Previous blogs have discussed a few areas to focus on during another Minnesota winter—physical fitness, mental health, and healthier goals in the areas of cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, and hormones. Instead of thinking of these as a laundry list of “to-dos,” look at them as a good way to celebrate your successes this winter. Celebrating the small wins along the way helps keep you motivated and focused on your end goal while enjoying the effort it takes to achieve it. Don’t feel that you have to do them all. Start with one and go from there. Now let’s begin to change up a few more routines worth celebrating!

Dinnertime

Rather than eating in front of the TV or everyone being on their phones, make eating at the table together with your family and friends a priority. During the meal, take turns to say something each one liked about their day, something they achieved, or something that made them laugh. Thank a person for something that made you happy or that you appreciate. Or if it was a bad day for someone, pay attention to their need and help them know that you’re there to support them.

Journal It

It’s true: “The palest ink is better than the best memory.” As you begin to make changes in your healthier routines, celebrate each change by writing it down so you can look back and see how far you’ve come. Writing it down helps you recognize the fact you accomplished a small feat. Whether you’re choosing a physical fitness activity or forgoing that candy bar in the checkout lane at the grocery store—write down the successes in a journal or in a note on your phone or tablet, so they become even more tangible, encouraging, and memorable!

Your Personal Billboard

You won’t see your personal successes plastered across a billboard for the world to see, so celebrate them yourself! Place a sticky note or use a dry-erase marker to write an affirmation on your bathroom mirror to help you press on toward your goals or a reminder about the goal you’re currently working on. Put a note at eye level on your laptop or computer monitor, on the dashboard of your car, or as the background of your smartphone.

Choose to celebrate each success—whether large or small—because life is made up of so many significant little moments. When spring comes, you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come!