By Andrew H. Jones
Community Relations Coordinator
Sun Life Family Health Center

A community comes alive when the residents share their love for their neighbors and friends enough to help improve it. Helping your community helps to build stronger bonds within which can make life better for your family, friends, co—workers and neighbors whom you share your life with. The more love you pour in, the better it will become.

Implementing positive small lifestyle changes are one of the most effective ways to improve your overall health and well—being. Even the smallest positive changes can help form healthy habits. We, the employees at Sun Life Family Health Center, want to offer a few suggested small tips and changes to help you on your journey toward a healthier you. We call them #OneSmallChange. Creating a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be some extravagantly outrageous New Year’s resolution that makes or breaks you. Adding in just #OneSmallChange incrementally will add up and make a Big difference.

DANIELLE JENNINGS, WHNP-BC — Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
#OneSmallChange:
Touch it Once
After reading an article about the habits of tidy people I have adopted the “ touch it once” strategy. Rather than putting stuff on a chair or leaving things where they might have to be moved again. I put things where they belong the first time I pick it up. Dishes don’t go in the sink, they go straight into the dishwasher. Shoes are taken off where they belong. Trying to get my kids to adopt this has been more of a struggle.

 

PAULINE MILLER — RN Team Lead
#OneSmallChange:
Work Hard — Play Hard
Make sure to reward yourself for your hard work, drink lots of water and get enough rest!

 

BERONICA M. — Medical Assistant
#OneSmallChange:
One Prayer
One prayer a day will make a huge difference.

 

SONIA O. — Front Desk
Registration Clerk
#OneSmallChange: Do a Small Act of Kindness for Others
Pick a few small acts of kindness and do one a day for a stranger, or pick something small to make a loved one feel loved. It will have a big impact on others and get you out of the narrow self—centered perspective that most of us get stuck in.

 

MAISEY B. — Front Desk Registration Clerk
#OneSmallChange:
Less focus
on electronics
Limit time usage of all electronics including tablets, gaming systems, cell phones and television for everyone in the household. There is so much focus on social media and gaming in todays world that we tend to forget about that good quality family time.

 

ELIZABETH A. — Site Manager
#OneSmallChange:
Be The
Change You Wish To See
Eye contact and a smile goes a long way for many having a bad day.

 

DANA RODRIGUEZ, CPNP, PhD — Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
#OneSmallChange:
Cut Down
on Sugar Intake
Look at the sugar in the food and drinks you consume. Start by reading food labels. Pay special attention to the sugar and carbohydrates. Start by eliminating sugary beverages like juice and soda.

 

BERNADETTE F. — Licensed Practical Nurse
#OneSmallChange:
Encourage Positivity
Encourage physical activity for all of the family, there is a website called MGR: MesaGilbertRocks. Basically it is like geocaching but instead you look for painted rocks which you can take home for your garden, house or wherever you wish to decorate or you can re-hide them for someone else to find. Libraries, Parks, trails are great places to look/hide. Get creative! Let your children paint the rocks.
Encourage hydration especially among the homeless, place 1—2 bottles of water and a protein bar in a Ziploc bag and hand out to those in need. You can include a happy thought!

 

BRITTANY K. — Registered Medical Assistant
#OneSmallChange:
Enjoy Life
Build a healthier and more enjoyable life by taking a walk to relax and enjoying what’s around you. Bring your kids or pets with you to make it more fun.

 

LUCY V. — Clinical Laboratory Assistant I
#OneSmallChange:
Good Mood
To Start Your Day
Make your alarm clock tone your favorite song, so it can help you to get up easier in the morning while bettering your mood to start your day. The best way to start a conversation with a person you don’t know is to start with giving them a complement. Not only will that break the ice but it also makes them more confident and you even more like-able.

 

SHAYLA S. — Medical Assistant
#OneSmallChange:
Time With Family Well Spent
Turn off all media 3 hours before bed and spend 1on1 time with family.

 

NICHELLE T. — Front Desk Registration Clerk
#OneSmallChange:
Live—Love Well
Treat people the way you want to be treated. Live every day like it could be your last.