“The Self-Care Solution: A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier, and Fitter – One Month at a Time” is written by Jennifer Ashton, M.D. You may have seen her on ABC News as their medical correspondent. Dr. Ashton went on a year-long course of self-improvement, using monthly challenges to create new habits. Each month/chapter details the challenge, why it was important in her life, why it is medically important, and how the month worked for her, complete with successes and failures. The medical reasoning is compelling, especially coming from a practicing physician. But, it’s an easy read, not bogged down with a lot of jargon.
As a result of reading The Self-Care Solution, I borrowed 10 of her challenges and rearranged the order of them to fit my life. As a result of my personal challenges, I now have several new habits in my life. I drink around 64 oz. of water every day, sleep at least 7 hours, eat less meat and more plants, and try to get 10,000 steps in 6 days a week, to name a few of my healthy changes. The one challenge that did not stick for me was doing push-ups and planks. Every day. Increasing in number and time held. I hated it! Couldn’t wait for the month to end. But 1 failure out of 10 is a pretty good percentage, right? For December, I am working on adding stretching to my wake-up and go-to-bed routines.
I highly recommend this title. I just feel generally healthier than I did a year ago from making some new habits that have stuck with me (except for those planks and push-ups!). It may not change your life like it did mine, but it’s worth a try to be healthier and happier, right?
