When considering personal health choices and coping skills, it is important to understand that there may be many reasons why we behave in certain ways. Mondays typically are days we start anew and make healthy choices. We have renewed determination to take that walk, choose foods that will nourish us rather than hurt us. Tuesday comes and we are a starting to feel perhaps a little stress and fatigue from a challenging day on Monday. This could lead to choosing to feel better by eating comfort food that is high in fat. As the week progresses the downward spiral may continue as the stress mounts. We may choose to do certain things that are unhealthy for the instant relief, but we may not understand that the solution is only a quick fix.

The good news is we can reverse our weekly downward spiral if we recognize it. Here is a simple plan to reflect on:

• Kick-start Monday with the best choice you can make at breakfast
• Tuesday exercise the stress away from Monday, do not eat it away, smoke it away or drink it away
• Wednesday focus on forming a water habit, drinking water is important for your healthy week, limit sodas and plan to make them a treat only
• Thursday be certain to get at least 8 hours of sleep, this will mean no daytime sleepiness Friday
• Friday take at least 30 minutes to do call a friend/family member to see how their week was
• Take the weekend to do a hobby you have, spend time with family, friends and squeeze in a little more exercise like getting the house clean

Motivating yourself may be one of the biggest challenges you face all week. You don't have to make lots of drastic changes all at once. Start by incorporating a few healthy changes each week, make a schedule of new things to do daily for the second week and on down the road. It's never too late to start living a little healthier, even if you have a lifetime of unhealthy habits, taking action now can have a positive effect on your overall health.

Recognizing our personal weekly patterns will give us the insight we need to evaluate healthy versus unhealthy coping skills. You are your own internal viewer, you know what your triggers are to make healthy versus unhealthy choices. Discover simple ways to stay motivated, have fun, and enjoy the simple pleasure that comes with living a healthier, more balanced life.