Trinity Elder Law & Estate Planning - January 2021

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HOW HABIT TRACKING AND DAILY RESOLUTIONS COULD TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE

3 QUESTIONS YO

When it comes to aging, many of us have goals that influence the decisions we make for our

care. However, these same goals can make us blind to reality. Choosing a later-in-life care option can be one of the wisest decisions you make for your health and longevity as well as your relationships. Here are three steps to determine what options are best for you. Question No. 1: What can you do? If you can get in and out of bed or chairs without falling, you can probably stay in your home. But maybe you need help with physical therapy or

Yearly resolutions are so last year … if they’re your only resolutions, that is.

Having long-term goals isn’t a bad thing, but do you have a daily plan to reach them? The huge boost of motivation in January isn’t always enough to sustain you all year long. That’s why there are major benefits to starting new healthy habits, whether you increase your weekly exercise time, eat healthier foods, or work on getting better or more sleep.

Luckily, sticking with these habits might be as easy as making daily resolutions to complement your yearly goals.

B.J. Fogg, a Stanford University professor and author of “Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything,” notes that tiny habits can make a new habit easy to implement into your daily ritual. For example, taking a short daily walk could lead to an exercise habit, or keeping an apple in your bag every day could encourage healthier snacking. It’s important that you stick with it because habits take a long time to create. One study published by the European Journal of Social Psychology asked people about a simple habit they wanted to form, like drinking water at lunch or taking a walk before dinner. They found that the average amount of time it took before the action became automatic was 66 days! Don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss a day, but know that sticking to a new habit is serious work, so starting small might help you out.

household chores. This could make in-home nursing care a great option for you. If you have more substantial needs, like mobility issues or memory concerns, or if you struggle to maintain your home, moving to a facility might be the best choice you make for your health. Winter is actually the best time to consider this question, as it’s often the time of the year when your home needs the most care. Be honest with what you can do and don’t be afraid to ask your loved ones (or our team) for advice.

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Another important aspect of forming new daily habits is rewarding yourself. Bad habits, like smoking, have an inherent reward. However, healthy habits can have rewards too! Try consuming a bit of dark chocolate after a workout or treating yourself to a fresh beverage or relaxing to a podcast after tackling an important task. Find ways to reward yourself, and you’ll be more likely to stick to your new habit. Certain daily resolutions don’t have to be related to exercise or diet to majorly improve your life. For example, having a gratitude journal might boost your long-term happiness by 10% and improve your blood pressure. Don’t hesitate to improve your quality of life! Just start small, and you’ll be amazed by how far you’ll go.

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