Adopting Healthy Practices in 2021: A Discussion with Doug Platts
In today's fast-paced world, making sustainable changes towards a healthier lifestyle can often feel like a daunting task. However, focusing on achievable and intentional goals can lead to significant progress, and one such strategy that is gaining popularity is container gardening.
Doug Platts, COO of Gardenuity, recently emphasised the importance of making healthy habits and breaking bad ones. He highlighted that daily gardening habits can lead to a flourishing garden and harvest, providing immediate satisfaction and visual progress, making success attainable.
So, why should you start a container garden today? Breaking a large goal into smaller steps can help us experience those smaller wins. Incremental steps should be considered when working towards a goal for progressive development. Container gardening is a simple and rewarding way to begin a new routine, and mindful goal-setting is encouraged, regardless of the time of year.
To make and maintain sustainable changes towards a healthier lifestyle, focusing on achievable and intentional goals is crucial. Here are four evidence-based strategies to help you get started:
1. **Set Realistic, Intentional Goals** Break down your overall health objectives into small, specific, and manageable goals. For example, instead of aiming for drastic weight loss quickly, set a goal to increase daily walking steps gradually or add one more vegetable to each meal. Intentionality means being mindful about your choices and progress, adjusting as necessary to fit your lifestyle.
2. **Adopt Sustainable Healthy Habits** Incorporate regular physical activity, such as walking, which is accessible and effective for gradual weight loss and maintenance. Follow a balanced diet rich in lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Employ the 80/20 rule: aim to eat healthily 80% of the time and allow for occasional treats 20% of the time to avoid feeling deprived and help maintain long-term adherence. Use mindful eating and hydration strategies to reduce overeating and improve satiety.
3. **Plan and Educate** Understanding nutrition and keeping track of your habits through food diaries or meal planning helps identify areas for improvement and reinforces constructive patterns. Cooking at home allows better control over ingredients and portion sizes.
4. **Support and Accountability** Having a support system and periodically monitoring progress encourages consistency in these lifestyle changes and helps sustain weight loss or health goals.
Now, let's delve into the benefits of container gardening in this process. Container gardening enables you to grow your own vegetables and herbs even in limited spaces. This direct access encourages consumption of fresh, organic foods integral to a balanced diet. Gardening activities provide gentle exercise, supporting overall physical health and aiding in weight management. Tending to plants fosters patience, reduces stress, and enhances mental well-being, all of which contribute to sustainable lifestyle changes.
Moreover, growing your own food reduces dependence on store-bought produce, lowering carbon footprint and grocery bills. By integrating container gardening with intentional lifestyle changes, you cultivate a holistic approach to health—supporting nutritional improvement, physical activity, mental health, and sustainability simultaneously.
In conclusion, little changes can lead to significant progress when goals are both achievable and intentional. Focusing on making small, sustainable changes can lead to improved happiness and health. Gardening can help keep oneself disciplined and provide a sense of accomplishment. The intentionality of setting a serious goal is crucial for change. So, why not start your container garden today and embark on a journey towards a healthier lifestyle?
- Container gardening, with its focus on achievable goals and immediate satisfaction, can help individuals make significant progress toward a healthier lifestyle.
- Embracing daily gardening habits can lead to a flourishing garden, providing a sense of success and visual progress that encourages continued growth.
- Adopting a container garden is a simple and rewarding way to start a new routine as part of personal growth and education in self-development.
- To make sustainable changes toward a healthier lifestyle, it's essential to break down overall health objectives into smaller, specific, and manageable goals, such as gradually increasing daily walking steps or adding one more vegetable to each meal.
- Container gardening offers multiple benefits, including growing fresh, organic foods important for a balanced diet, providing gentle exercise for physical health, and reducing stress for mental well-being.
- By cultivating a container garden while maintaining intentional goals in other areas like nutrition, fitness, and wellness, individuals can achieve a holistic approach to health and personal growth.
