8 Achievable New Year’s Resolutions

With the new year approaching, it’s the perfect time to prepare your resolutions. For many people, health-promoting habits constitute some of the best ways to ring in the new year. To that end, here are eight achievable goals you can set for yourself to significantly improve your overall wellbeing.

Man doing yoga to reduce stress — 1.) Reduce Stress

Stress is a normal part of life, but one thing you can control is your responses to stress. Even something as simple as a positive attitude or knowing the limits to what you can control can help.

Family eating healthy food — 2.) Eat Healthier

Instead of focusing on trying diets to to lose weight, focus on making healthy food choices every day for long-lasting change and better health.

People getting exercise — 3.) Exercise

Regular exercise remains part of a healthy lifestyle, and a successful exercise plan has goals that coordinate with your doctor’s advice.

Man practicing mindfulness — 4.) Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a way to bring your attention to the moment, manage stress and improve health through breathing, thinking and meditation.

Women Quitting Smoking — 5.) Quit Smoking or Vaping

Quitting smoking is hands down one of the most important changes you can make to improve your health, and your body will start to heal itself after your last cigarette.

Man getting proper sleep — 6.) Get Needed Sleep

Getting a proper amount of sleep is vital to maintaining good physical and mental health. Avoid many of the common mistakes people do that decrease the quality of sleep.

Take your prescribed medication — 7.) Take Prescribed Medication

Managing your medications is a very important task. When you take medication as prescribed, your disease can be controlled, and developing a daily routine for taking your medications is a key part of that.

Friends connecting with their community — 8.) Connect with Your Community

Whether you need support for your resolutions or just need talking to someone, staying in better touch with friends and loved ones can be beneficial to your mental and emotional health. If you’re feeling isolated, try reaching out to groups within your community and participating in social events. You can use social media and virtual gatherings, if preferred.

This information has been reviewed and approved by Carrie Horn, MD (December 2022).