Developing a self-care plan is as easy as 1-2-3...

I often hear from people I meet just how difficult it is to become more active, eat a little better, and in general, take better care of one's self. It really isn't. It is rather simple and, bear with me, much more inexpensive than many would like for you to believe.

A good friend of mine, a mentor in my wellness journey, used to use the term "self-care plan" often. I love the term and use it often, perhaps to a fault. A self-care plan can be many things to many people. To me, it is a balance of good nutrition, physical activity, rest, motivation, and forward planning.

I know, I know... Again, bear with me...

Taking better care of oneself is as big a win-win situation as there is. Eating well generally means eating cleaner with more fruits and vegetables. That is not to imply the notion of deprivation of all of those naughty things we may have eaten in the past. Hardly. Because the moment you get it into your mind that there are foods you cannot eat, this self-care plan - an attempt to do something positive for yourself, turns out to be a diet... and what are the first three letters in the word "diet"? D-I-E. That is what happens to most diets that include deprivation of anything... they usually die a painful death, and the person trying to make it work is left wondering what went wrong and may consider never trying again. On the flip side, a reasonable diet - "diet" meaning stable of foods we eat - including more fruits and vegetables, good amounts of fiber and enough protein and fats, all in proper portions, will allow for opportunities to consume something that may ordinarily be outside the realm of the "better" choices.

There are many free online tools that can be used to track and calculate your calories, vitamins, and nutrients consumed, in an effort to make life easier for you. I have used both Spark People and Fit Day. and both are very user friendly and intuitive.

Physical activity and rest really go hand-in-hand. Being physically active does not mean you have to go out and run a marathon, although if that is your bag, excellent. If you are just getting started with your self-care plan, any kind of physical activity is fantastic. Walking is one of the best activities out there. It is good for your joints, your bones, and most importantly your heart and mind.

Running, contrary to popular belief, is not bad for you. On the contrary, it is infectious. Some of my best thinking happens when I am out on the roads, running. It is my meditation time, my time for reflection.

Some will have you believe that walking and/or running are expensive ways to get into and stay in shape. I am here to dispel that. I challenge anyone to find me an annual gym membership that will cost as little as that of one or two pairs of properly fitted shoes. Notice, I said "properly fitted". That does not mean you can run out to your local box store and pick up any old shoes, throw them on your feet, and expect to keep your body moving and pain free. I urge you to find a store that looks at your feet, with your shoes and socks off, and look at your feet and find a shoe that is right for you. This is not at an extra cost. Stores like Fleet Feet for example simply do it as a part of their fitting process. They are not satisfied until you have the best shoe for you on your feet. And you shouldn't either. It is the best investment you can make. A good pair of walking or running shoes can last you anywhere from six to 12 months, depending on your level of activity. Not a bad investment of time and money.

Rest is equally important. It is your body's way of rebuilding itself from your activities. It is a important as any physical activity you will perform. Not much more can be said about that, but I cannot stress its importance enough.

Motivation and forward planning also go hand-in-hand. This journey of ours, this self-care plan, is a never ending process. There is no finish line, folks. With that in mind, goals are crucial to keep up your motivation. I am not saying that setting a firm weight-by-date goal is the only way to go. Find something that is important to you. Aiming for a charity walk in which you want to participate? Planning for a run, perhaps your first? Print out walk or race fliers and hang them anywhere your eyes go... it will be a constant reminder and instant motivation for you to keep your eye on the prize.

This self-care plan thing is not rocket science, by any means. It many things to many people. But there are some things it is not. It, much like us as human beings, is not nor does it have to be perfect. For many years, I beat myself up for making bad food choices or not being more active, and the like. It took me several years to figure out that if I could just make better choices seven, eight, or even nine times out of 10, I would be ahead of the game in the long run... and that is precisely what this self-care plan idea is all about. The big picture. The rest of your life. If you do not have a self-care plan in place yet, get one. They are fun, free, and may just be the key to unlocking a brand new life of wellness for you, your friends, and family.

Be well.