You can make big improvements in your life, and you don't have to do them all at once. In fact, it's small, gradual changes that create lasting well-being, whether it's with your spirituality, in your vocation, in your personal finances, or with your health.

Get Inspired offers you manageable tips for getting the best from life ... one small improvement at a time. Visit this section often to find new tips, refresh what you've learned, and whenever you need to "get inspired."

Write things down. Taking time to jot down your grocery lists, your to-do items, your random sparks of creativity, and your goals helps to lodge them more deeply into memory. That can help keep you more accountable so that you follow through on the things you say you'll do. And don't let life's demands overwhelm you: Look into the CIGNA Strength & Resilience stress management program.

Clean out your closet and donate those unworn clothes. If you haven't worn it in a year, you no longer like it, or it doesn't fit, give it away! Shelves, other closets around the house, and dressers are fair game, too. Not only will you enjoy the regained storage space, but you'll be making some grateful recipient very happy.

Walk during lunch hour. Our information-based society has made it harder than ever to get the physical activity our bodies need to stay healthy. Walking during lunch or short breaks at work offers a quick way to accumulate the 30 minutes or more of daily, moderate physical activity recommended by experts. Find more expert advice on how to fit walking into your overall wellness regimen with the Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth Web site.

Have fruit for dessert. Substitute fruit for a sugar-laden dessert and keep in mind it doesn't always have to be fruit salad. Pureed desserts, smoothie style, are a cool, convenient, and tasty way to add some pizzazz to your post-meal treat. Eating fruit instead of sweets loaded with sugar and fat can be part of an overall strategy to manage your weight. CIGNA Healthy Steps to Weight Loss offers a holistic approach to healthy behaviors.

Use spices instead of salt. We're naturally drawn to salty flavors, a holdover from the days long before salt was easily available. But in modern times, salt and the sodium it contains often inundate the foods we buy. To keep your blood pressure at a healthy level, try cutting your salt intake in half. Experiment with spices to discover exciting new flavors you otherwise might have missed.

Plant a vegetable garden. One obvious perk of gardening is that you and your family get to eat naturally grown food that's filled with health benefits. But gardening also makes an excellent stress reliever and form of physical activity. For more strategies to reduce stress, look to the CIGNA Strength & Resilience stress management program.

Drink a glass of water before eating. Oftentimes, the sensation we perceive as hunger is actually thirst, according to the U.S. Public Health Service. See if a glass of water satiates that empty stomach. In addition, research shows that drinking a glass of water before a meal greatly reduces the calories eaten by older adults and people with obesity.

To get more done, take a break. If you want to be more productive, try taking a break every 90 minutes. In the course of a day, we operate on several types of cycles, called ultradian rhythms. One of these cycles is the need to take a physical and mental break from a task about every 90 minutes. Ignoring this natural cycle can make us irritable or more prone to making mistakes. Taking advantage of it, on the other hand, lets you return to your work focused and refreshed.

Make time to play. Hobbies and fun activities provide an important stress relief valve, a way to show off your creative side, and possibly even a way to turn your career into play.

Eat only until you feel 80 percent full. In Western culture, we've been taught to eat until our plate is clean or we've gotten our money's worth at the all-you-can-eat buffet. But the residents of Okinawa, Japan, who quite often live beyond the century mark, take a different approach: eat only until 80-percent full. Studies show that overeating can induce cravings for you to eat more, causing inflammation that leads to Type 2 diabetes and obesity. So back away from the table before you are full - it could extend your life.

Get your blood pressure checked this month. Almost one-third of people with high blood pressure don't realize they have this potentially dangerous condition. You can identify high blood pressure and other conditions before they become serious by using the Board of Pensions' preventive health benefit.

Buy a bocce set or other backyard game. It's a great way to get a little exercise and fresh air and to spend extra time with your family.

Brush your teeth regularly. In addition to preventing cavities, it may help to prevent heart attacks. Scientists have found that people with gum disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those who don't.

Install carbon monoxide detectors. Every time you activate a furnace, stove, hot-water heater, or other appliance, you produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can suffocate and kill.

Listen to your kids better. Good communication is mostly listening. Don't interrupt, do ask good questions, and be empathic.

Remember to give. And also remember that giving doesn't always have to mean financial giving. Your generosity can take many forms, big and small, including donating blood, giving someone a referral, or giving your professional expertise pro bono to a cause that needs it. By giving to the Assistance Program, you can help uphold the promise to care for our pastors and other faithful church servants who face exceptional needs.

Make it a priority to save. Not sure whether you should first concentrate on saving or instead focus on paying off high-interest debt? Financial planners recommend you save at least six months of living expenses in an account you can access quickly in an emergency. Then start paying off unsecured debt, such as credit cards, aggressively. If six months of expenses is too difficult for you to build up right now, start with a sizeable smaller amount, like $1,000, as your emergency cushion. The Board of Pensions offers many tools, programs, and benefits to help you manage your money, including the Simple Savings Calculator, our retirement and financial planning seminars, and the Retirement Savings Plan.

Save water by shortening your showers. The average eight-minute shower can use up to 17 gallons of water. Trim your shower time to three or four minutes. Some experts suggest turning the water off while you lather up. Saving water saves you money. Use the Simple Savings Calculator to find out how the power of compound interest can make your regular savings really add up.

Know your family's medical history. While fitness and a good diet are significant in helping us stay healthy and live longer, scientists say our genetic traits and inheritance also determine our health and longevity. When you know your family's medical history, you can take proactive steps to lower your specific health risks. The Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth Web site offers expert advice on how to achieve good health.

Know where you stand financially. As the saying goes, if you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there. This holds true for your personal finances, as well, especially when it comes to ensuring that you'll be able to meet your needs in retirement. Make sure you understand how your assets, liabilities, expenses, and income will affect your future. You can take advantage of the enhanced financial services of the Employee Assistance Program, including access to Certified Financial Planners. Also check out the financial and retirement seminars led by the Board's highly experienced education specialists.