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Using the Balanced Life Index to Help Achieve Your Balance GoalsBy James M. Rippe, M.D.
Where in your life do you need to achieve better balance? How do you know if you are making progress? How can you keep yourself motivated to reach your goals?
The Balanced Life Index (BLI) can help you answer all these questions. This unique survey was developed to help you reach your goals for balance using the resources here on Start Making Choices. It targets three important aspects of balance—nutrition, activity, and well-being. And it’s versatile. You can use it to assess your current strengths and areas needing work, to guide your planning, and to track your progress as you follow your plan. Best of all, it’s a helpful tool, not a test. Here are four ways you can use it to help you achieve your goals:
1) Identify your current strengths and areas where you need to make choices for better balance.
Taking a few minutes to complete the survey online helps you understand your current status for balanced nutrition, activity, and well-being. For example, are you eating enough fruit or whole grains? How much physical activity do you get? Are you taking enough time for yourself? You can see just where you are making choices that promote balance and where you need to work to improve. The BLI provides an overall balance score and separate scores for each pillar of balance—nutrition, activity, and well-being.
2) Use the BLI Results page to help you personalize your goals and program.
You can check your BLI results page at any time to see what steps we recommend to help you set goals and personalize your plan. You can select the suggested steps and programs for inclusion in your Daily Planner. It’s also easy to plug in additional steps and choices that you like.
3) Assess your progress.
As you use your online planner each day to track what you eat, what physical activity you do, and what steps you take to promote well-being (such as taking time for yourself or using a stress management technique), your BLI automatically updates on the Start Making Choices website. If you don’t use the online log regularly, you can retake the BLI at any time you choose. It’s easy to see where you are making progress and where you need to expand your efforts.
4) Keep your motivation high.
Having a concrete measure of your progress in the BLI will inspire self-confidence and renew your determination to stick with your goals. Seeing your BLI results rise steadily motivates you to keep working for the balanced life you desire. You'll soon rise toward and into the three Balance zones—good balance, excellent balance, and superb balance.
If you haven't taken the BLI yet, why not take it now? Then, using your results, start to make choices that will help you achieve balance in ways that fit into the daily realities of your life.
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©ConAgra Foods, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Start Making Choices does not provide medical advice.
Information is intended for educational purposes only. See additional information.
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