Just one change can have a huge impact.
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| | | | Once upon a time, I was the queen of happy hour. I don't mean to say I was the wittiest or most charming, just that I typically consumed the most alcohol (in my weight class, that is) and stayed the latest. This lasted for around a decade until a coalescing of factors led me to cut my drinking by a lot. | | I went from drinking a beer most weeknights and many drinks every weekend to consuming a couple of drinks a month. | | It's been almost 5 years since I cut back and I've noticed so many benefits that I never even knew I'd been missing out on. I no longer wake up in the middle of the night feeling thirsty and wide awake. My anxiety is more manageable. And I have fewer cravings for salty and sweet foods, which makes it a lot easier to eat healthier. | | Today, I'm excited to give the floor to some of my talented coworkers to share their own examples of how making one change to their lives had an outsize impact on their health. I loved reading their responses, and I hope you feel the same. | | | | To a long life,
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Ginger Wojcik
September 18, 2024 • 5 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | The best things our editors ever did for their health | "For me, it was deciding not to snack on Snickers bars, Maltesers, and fizzy drinks between meals, or eating pasta and bread for most of my main meals. This happened about 10, maybe 12 years ago, when I was doing a lot of long distance driving. I'd somehow convinced myself that I needed extra 'energy' to get through a 2- or 3-hour journey because I often felt really tired — actually on the verge of falling asleep — while speeding along at 70 mph on the highway. This was not sustainable or frankly survivable.
Eventually, the penny dropped: Riding the ups and downs of the blood sugar rollercoaster was exhausting me. A decade later I'm at least 20 pounds lighter, with a more even temperament, and I rarely feel tired in the daytime — all thanks to a little bit of restraint in my day-to-day diet."
— Tim Snaith, newsletter editor
| "Starting therapy in 2019 absolutely transformed my life. Before then, I had no idea how to handle anything, maintain healthy relationships, or even what boundaries were. I self-sabotaged way more than I like to admit, leaned on unhealthy coping mechanisms, and unintentionally hurt my loved ones (then avoided confrontation at all costs). I owe all of the positive change in my life to consistently working with my wonderful therapist over the last few years.
Now, I'm way more self-aware, mindful of others, a better communicator, and clear on what I need to feel good each day. I've also received mental health diagnoses that helped me better understand my brain and how to live life in healthier, more accommodating ways. Having professional support has been an absolute game-changer for my relationships, mental health, and overall well-being."
— Morgan Mandriota, newsletter editor
| "In college, I almost exclusively ate microwavable meals. Between classes and extracurriculars, every day looked so different. Because of this, I convinced myself I didn't have enough time to make my own meals. It became a running joke that I only ate TV dinners and ramen. Worse than the embarrassment, I felt like I had no energy.
Currently, I make almost all of my meals with whole foods, and the change has been like night and day. I no longer have brain fog. I'm able to wake up in the morning and move my body without feeling like I could pass out at any moment. And, best of all, I save a lot of money. Those frozen meals are super expensive!"
— Sarah Choi, engagement editor
| "I moved to an apartment that's right across the street from my gym. This wasn't totally planned. But it has helped me maintain a consistent workout routine. My old gym was a subway ride away from my last place, which often led to me making up lousy excuses. Now that it's less than a minute walk, I've committed to 5 to 6 days of some form of movement — whether that's strength training or a 30-minute rowing session on the ERG machine. I've even been able to add midday workouts throughout the week!"
— Kenny Thapoung, managing newsletter editor
| | 🎤 Over to you: Have you made a change to your life that's benefited your health in a meaningful way? We want to hear about it! Email wellnesswire@healthline.com with your story. | | | | | | |
| | | | The Pillow | | | | | | |  | | Tempur-Pedic Cloud Pillow | | I consider buying this pillow one of the top health decisions I've made. As a side sleeper, I need a pillow that's thick enough to support my neck and shoulders. But since I often roll onto my back throughout the night, it can't be too thick. This pillow perfectly threads that needle (for my body at least). It's made from firm but not too hard Tempur-Pedic foam. It also comes with a zip-off pillow cover that can easily be thrown in the washer (since the pillow itself can't be washed). | | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | *It can not be combined with your health insurance. Healthline and Optum Perks are owned by RVO Health. By using this Optum Perks service, we may receive a tangible benefit. | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Thanks for reading, friends! I hope you're all having a wonderful week. | | | | | | |
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