I am a firm believer in the power of small steps when it comes to promoting a healthy lifestyle. I’m a work-at-home single mom, I barely have enough time to wash my hair every day! I do, however, have time to squeeze in a quick walk, call a good friend to vent, or indulge in a cup of tea. Small steps can add up to major victories in the healthy lifestyle game, and since they don’t require much commitment on my part, I’m more likely to stick to them.

I didn’t eat oatmeal until I was well into my late 20s because I always assumed I wouldn’t like it. Then one day, I was reading about its benefits and decided to just give it a try. I’m weird about trying new foods. Hmmm, I guess that’s where Jacob gets it from! Anyway, when I finally tried it, I discovered that I actually really liked the wholesome, hearty goodness! So now I try to fit it into my breakfast schedule at least three times a week.

More Small Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle

• I spend at least half an hour a day (in 5-10 minute increments) playing with my dogs, starting with snuggles first thing in the morning. Just the simple act of petting them makes me feel calmer almost instantly. When it’s nice outside, I take one for a walk. Only one at a time though, I tried walking three at once and almost broke my neck! That’s not exactly conducive to a healthy lifestyle!

• When my head is stuffy or I’m feeling that brain-fog sensation, I stick my face over the opening of a huge jar filled with peppermint leaves and inhale deeply. Instead fog-dissipation! This is especially helpful when I first wake up, as it takes me a while to get moving mentally.

• If I’m having a particularly stressful day, I play racing video games with my son, but only the kind where you’re actually encouraged to crash into things because I can’t actually steer a virtual car. There is something really satisfying about smashing into objects and other cars, and it helps release pent-up frustration.

• Aside from an alarm clock, my bedroom is an “electronic-free” zone. No TV, no radio, no distractions. This helps me get a better night sleep, in my opinion, which leads to much happier mornings.

I’m sure I do tons of other small things throughout the day that help add up to a healthy lifestyle. The great thing about small things is that you really don’t have to spend a lot of time thinking about them, they just become part of your day.

What small steps do you take to encourage a healthier lifestyle? Join us on Thursday, February 23rd at 7PM EST (4PM PST) for a discussion about “Future Wins : What morning small wins will help contribute to a successful future?” Participating in this discussion gives you a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Winner will be chosen at random at the end of the discussion. Plus, participating in this or any of the other discussions gets you an entry for the grand prize, a $1000 Amazon Gift Card! Aside from the discussion on Thursday, there will be another one on March 8th at the same time, so be sure to check that one out to and increase your chances of winning.

To join in on the conversations, visit http://discuss.glam.com/forum/topics/quakerrewards, follow along with twitter hashtag #QuakerRewards, or check out the conversation right here on the widget below. I hope to see you there!

The benefits of a warm, filling bowl of oatmeal can keep you going all morning long.

Energy. Fiber. Heart Health.

Quaker Oatmeal. A super grain breakfast.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Quaker via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Quaker.