Name: Erin Tuthill
Profession: Physical Therapist
Company: Price Chiropractic in Boise, Idaho
How long have you been helping people become better?
I have been a physical therapist for 19 years.
Why is it important for people to focus on themselves and become better?
For the Hula Hoop of Control concept, you imagine yourself standing in the center of a hula hoop. Anything inside the hula hoop is in your control. Anything outside the hula hoop is not. We focus on ourselves because that is all we can ultimately control.
What do you believe are the top 3 things a person can do to be happier?
A colleague once said that to be happy, you need three things:. I agree.
- Something to do.
- Someone to love,
- and Something to look forward to.
What do you think are the top 3 things for a person to do to be healthier?
- A ten-minute walk (at just ten minutes of continuous walking your brain chemistry starts to shift and you feel better),
- prioritize good sleep (exercise helps sleep quality),
- and have love in your life. Love of pets absolutely counts.
How have you found your core values and stay true to them?
In our profit-driven society, many physical therapists don’t have the time they need to truly help patients reach their goals. I work for a company that aligns with my values: to treat each patient as an individual, to treat all people like they matter, and to focus on people over profit. I have a full hour per patient to focus solely on their unique needs. This allows patients to feel seen and heard, and to obtain personalized care based on their lifestyle and goals.
From your perspective, how can someone start making little steps to be better?
Look for little, easy ways to add fitness into your daily routine. Start with a ten-minute walk (no equipment or post-workout shower required). If you can’t walk for ten minutes, walk for five. If you don’t have five minutes, walk for three. Let movement be the default in your day, that of course you get movement in a day, but let the amount and type be flexible so it’s achievable.
What advice do you have that they struggle to make time for themselves?
Start small. Focus on what you can do and build from there. Every little bit counts, and the little bits add up.
What are some of the things you do for yourself to be better?
Consistently meeting my basic needs for movement, quietude, and rest, has changed my life. The dog-lovers among us know that to expect good behavior from our dogs, we must first meet their basic needs for walks, food, and water, but sometimes we forget to treat ourselves as well as we treat our dogs!
What advice do you have for those that falter or become uninspired?
Give yourself grace. Then start again. Being perfect or making up for lost time is not a goal. Beating yourself up is not useful. The goal is to re-start, again and again as needed, and build a habit of movement. Habits build momentum
Any other tips or advice for our readers about how to work on being holistically a better person?
The goal is joyful movement that adds to a joyful life. The best workouts are the ones that bring you joy. When a baby learns to crawl, their world gets bigger and they can explore so much more. When we develop the strength and stamina to go “off the beaten path,” our worlds expand. Build your fitness and go play!
