Healthy New Year's Resolutions

With the current year coming to a close, now's the time many people start thinking about ways to better themselves and their health in the New Year.

New Year's resolutions are a great way to form new healthy habits, but sometimes people try to do too many new things at once and fall out of their new patterns by the end of January.

Avoid this mistake by choosing a few manageable New Year's resolutions to focus on that you can see yourself keeping up with for the long term.

After your healthy New Year's resolutions become a part of your routine, you can add more good habits to your new lifestyle whenever you want — you don't have to wait until the beginning of the next year!

Exercise More Often

Getting in better shape is one of the most common healthy New Year's resolutions that people choose (there's a reason gyms are so full in January.) It's also one of the best decisions you can make for your overall physical and mental health!

However, if you haven't worked out in a long time or have never been one for the gym, it's easy to get discouraged and give up rather quickly.

So, don't force yourself to go to the gym every day if you are just starting your fitness journey.

Instead, start slow and steady, incorporating a mixture of different physical activities into your new exercise routine.

Work Out From Home

Working out from home can be less intimidating than hitting the gym all the time, not to mention more convenient.

Try getting some basic home workout equipment, such as dumbbells, a jump rope, and a yoga mat, and start moving your body more at home. There are tons of free home workout videos on YouTube that you can follow along while you start kicking your body into shape.

To mix things up a little, you can also go on walks, runs or jogs, bike rides, and hikes — anything that gets your limbs moving and your heart pumping is good!

Schedule Your Annual Check-Up

Routine annual check-ups from your family doctor will help make sure your entire body is healthy and ready to take on another year.

The older you get, the more important annual medical exams are, so the beginning of the New Year is the perfect time to remember to schedule your exams for the coming year.

Don't worry too much about whether or not an exact date and time will work for you. Once it gets closer, you can always move the appointment to a better time and date if needed. It's all about getting those annual exams on your radar so you don't forget about them and let another year pass!

During an annual check-up, your doctor will check critical indicators, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, and ask questions about your health and lifestyle to get ideas of any risk factors for diseases and illnesses.

Over time, your healthcare provider will get to know you and your medical history, so they'll be better able to spot signs of any issues and start treating them sooner rather than later.

Mammography Checks and Other Screenings

For women 40 and up, getting annual mammography screenings for breast cancer is the best way to get ahead of the disease before it becomes a problem.

Women 35 to 40 years old should start with a baseline mammogram to which future mammograms can be compared. Then, starting at 40, women should get a mammogram yearly.

Also, men and women should check with their healthcare provider to see when they should schedule other screenings, such as colonoscopy, to maintain their good health.

Adopt a Healthier Diet

Eating healthier is one of the best ways to improve your life, especially when paired with regular exercise.

This is particularly important because unhealthy eating habits can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes, which can have a negative impact on your life.

Healthier diets that help prevent diabetes generally consist of the following:

Lots of whole grains and very few highly processed carbohydrates
Water, coffee, and tea instead of sugary drinks
Healthy fats found in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds
Fish and poultry and low amounts of processed and red meat
Limited alcohol consumption

Eating healthy isn't just important for preventing diabetes, though. The more nutritious your diet is and the more in shape you are, the better you'll feel, and you'll feel motivated to conquer all your other New Year's resolutions!

Forming Healthy Habits with Arnot

If you have trouble fully integrating healthy New Year's resolutions into your life, don't overwhelm yourself this next year with new habits that you'll eventually quit.

Instead, pick a few simple ones you feel confident you can stay on top of. Choosing a few of the healthy habits discussed above can go a long way toward changing your life for the better! And if you're unsure of where to start, or what to start with, consult with your healthcare provider. They are there to help!

From primary care and family medicine to cancer care and heart health, Arnot Health is here to support you on your journey to a happier, healthier life in the coming year.