When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, it’s easy to get stuck on the same old things we want to change every year. Maybe you’re going to start working out more, want to focus on becoming involved as a volunteer in a community organization, connect more with family members, etc. It’s easy to let those goals fall by the wayside. Whatever your usual resolutions are, consider committing to more creative, intentional New Year’s resolutions this year.
If you are looking for unique, simple resolutions that you can stick to, try these few ideas that will help you be happier and healthier in 2020.
Develop a month-by-month family fitness plan.
A report by CNN predicts an alarming trend with a study by the New England Journal of Medicine. If America does not collectively adopt healthier eating habits, over half of the nation will be obese within 10 years. Even worse, one in four Americans will be “severely obese” with a body mass index over 35, which means they will be more than 100 pounds overweight.
Children don’t normally feed themselves and they learn healthy fitness habits from the adults in their lives. Design a comprehensive fitness plan for your family to establish lifestyle changes to start with. Set realistic goals. Hoping that exercise alone will lead to weight loss could lead to disappointment, discouraging participants from continuing efforts. Find healthier ways as a family to eat real food instead of fast food or pre-prepared food. It’s an important part of the equation.
If anyone in your family has health or physical challenges, consult with your primary care physician for a more personalized plan based on individual needs, limitations, and goals.
Schedule comprehensive wellness visits for you and your family.
Half-yearly/annual wellness visits are a great time to learn about your current health status and the best ways to improve your well being. Most health insurance plans have online information about healthy lifestyle specials available to subscribers Be sure to schedule eye exams, annual physicals, dentist appointments, women’s and men’s wellness exams, pediatric visits for children, and vaccinations.
As you age, you may be due for screenings, so it’s important to stay up to date on your individual health needs. Be sure if you have a healthcare spending account or pretax FSA, that you utilize those valuable savings.
Get out into nature more often.
Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone to experience more happiness and that includes leaving your home from time to time. It’s been established that people who spend more time in parks and other natural settings tend to report higher levels of health and happiness. According to Greater Good Magazine “Scientists are beginning to find evidence that being in nature has a profound impact on our brains and our behavior, helping us to reduce anxiety, brooding and stress, and increase our attention capacity, creativity, and our ability to connect with other people.”
Eat breakfast every day.
Why limit your food intake as a resolution when you can increase it healthily? This resolution can get you back on track to healthy eating by starting with the most important meal of the day, breakfast. Potential benefits of eating breakfast include improved memory, reduced irritability, healthier weight, and enhanced nutrition.
Choose a workout that suits your schedule.
Select a time (before work, during lunch), a place (at the office gym, in the park across the street) and plan (three times a week, every weekday) that feels doable to sustain throughout the year.
Always pack healthy hungry snacks.
Set yourself up for snacking success by keeping healthy snacks in your purse, desk drawer, and gym bag. Not only will you save calories, but you’ll also save lots of money not being tempted by high-calorie fast food or vending machine solutions to sudden hunger.
Get the perfect amount of good sleep.
Sleep is essential for your body to function properly. Lack of sleep can negatively impact your mood and response to stress. Severe sleep deprivation can result in a higher rate of injuries and even automobile accidents. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Something as simple as making sure you get a good night’s sleep on a daily basis can even help you stay on track with your other New Year’s resolutions.
Practice mindfulness.
Another unique New Year’s resolution that you can carry out all year long is to be mindful. Mindfulness is the practice of focusing on the moment without letting yourself get distracted. Potential benefits include a higher level of general satisfaction, greater ability to cope with difficulties, less worrying and regret, stronger relationships, and higher self-esteem. Physically, mindfulness can reduce stress and lower your blood pressure, improving your overall heart health. It can also lead to better sleep and improved chronic pain management.
Track and time your water intake.
If you find your energy is flagging come mid-afternoon, do an H2O check before snacking. You might just be thirsty. Its recommended to start your morning with a glass, pack a refillable water bottle to carry around throughout the day and rotate in sparkling or infused waters if you’re craving a change of pace.
Are you ready to succeed this year?
We want to help you and your family have a healthy, safer, happier New Year.
Anyone of any age, size or gender can begin working on these back-to-basics behaviors. Focusing on adding one or two small, daily positive habits to your routine removes the intimidation of otherwise lofty New Year’s goals. If you miss a day, start fresh the next day. Everyone falls off sometimes. What matters most is jumping back on track.
About St. Michael’s Elite Hospital
When it comes to self-care, parents with children, and caregivers, we want to ensure our families have the very best choice for local, emergency hospital healthcare. We fill a need for busy families who need emergency care and want to see a board-certified emergency physician for the highest and most thorough emergency assessments.
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