The beginning of a new year is the time for a fresh start. It’s a time to make plans and set targets, and an opportunity to make some positive changes in your life. Maybe in the past you’ve set goals for travel, relationships, or learning. These are all great pursuits, but prioritize your health this year! The better your health is the better your overall quality of life will be. Here are a few tips that can help you put your focus on health.
Make time to relax
Everyone deals with stress on some level. Acute stress can be a good thing, but chronic stress can take a toll on our bodies. Chronic stress affects your mood and is linked with increased blood pressure, and an increased risk for stroke and heart disease.
Find healthy ways to manage your stress.
Wash your hands
Washing your hands more often is a quick and easy way to help prevent the spread of germs and stay healthy. It’s especially important to wash your hands often during cold and flu seasons, or after being around someone who is ill.
Be sure to use proper hand washing techniques.
Get rest
If you want to prioritize your health, you can’t skimp on sleep. Getting good quality sleep each night, and enough of it, is essential to good health throughout all stages of life.
Make sure that you get enough sleep every night.
More veggies, less chips
Weight loss and diet goals are among the most popular New Year’s resolutions every year. While you may prefer to set a specific number, you might be better off focusing on the foods you eat rather than how much you weigh.
Eat more healthy foods- such as fruits and vegetables – and cut out unhealthy junk foods, and develop healthy eating habits.
Quit for good
Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are two unhealthy habits that can do a lot of harm to your health. Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer and COPD, and alcohol can damage your brain, heart, liver, and cause a number of health problems.
Give up smoking and limit alcohol consumption.
Stay active
You need physical activity every single day. People often get discouraged because they feel like they don’t have time to exercise. Even 10 minutes of exercise is beneficial, and those minutes add up throughout the day.
There are lots of ways to be physically active.
Talk to your doctor
One of the best things you can do to work towards wellness is establish a good relationship with your primary healthcare provider by scheduling regular wellness visits.
Don’t just think of your doctor when you get sick or injured. Get in the healthy habit of scheduling annual wellness exams. Regular exams can help find health problems before they start, and can even help prevent some health problems altogether.
Share any health concerns with your primary care doctor. This gives them a better understanding and more in depth look at your health.
Making healthy changes in your life can be a challenge. You may falter and slip before those healthy changes become healthy habits. Regular visits with your doctor can help ensure that you continue to work towards wellness. Contact a MANA doctor today!