If you’re like me, it’s easy to make new resolutions at the start of the year, but harder and harder to keep them as the days and weeks go by. Once you get past January, the rest of the year hangs in front of you like an invitation to fail. So you might as well just give up now instead of putting off the inevitable. Right? Wrong!
I’m honestly not big on making resolutions about my health. It’s too easy to let them become an all or nothing event. If you slip up, even a little, you feel like a failure which too often feels like a great excuse to give up. But taking care of your own health is too important to give up on after a minor slipup.
So if you made health resolutions and you’re sticking to them, good for you! If not, here are a few simple things you can start doing today to improve your health:
• Drink more water – Unless you are already drinking 72 ounces of water a day, this one is a no-brainer. Our bodies are made up of more water than anything else. Water is such a basic need that we literally can’t live without it. Don’t try to fool yourself into thinking coffee, tea or soda can replace the water your body craves. If you don’t like the taste of tap water in your area, sample different bottled waters until you find one you like. Then make it a goal to drink at least one more glass or bottle of water every day. When I switched from my favorite coffee to water, my skin got softer and I had more energy than ever before.
• Eat better – No matter what your current weight is, you probably have room to make better choices about what you eat. I’m not telling you to go on a diet or try to lose weight. It’s up to you and your doctor to decide if that’s something you need to think about. I’m also not suggesting that you stop eating what you love. But take an honest look at your diet and think about ways you could do better. Maybe it’s eating less fried or fast food. Maybe it’s smaller portions or more veggies. Whatever it is, make small changes you can live with that will move you in the right direction.
• Monitor your exercise – If you are a fitness nut, maybe you need to give your muscles a break once in a while. If you are a couch potato, try walking to the mailbox instead of stopping the car to pick up the mail before pulling into the garage. Take a look at your current fitness level and make small, appropriate changes. Don’t try to do too much too fast. That’s a sure way to hurt yourself and halt your progress before you even get going.
• Visit your doctor – Your doctor is your most important ally as you work toward better health. Don’t let your wallet get in the way of the important health tests that can help your doctor diagnose and head off potentially serious illnesses before they become a problem. The sooner your doctor knows you have a problem, the faster he or she can work to stop it from getting worse. So bite the bullet and schedule your annual checkup, including whatever gender-specific tests you are due for like Pap smears, mammograms and prostate checks. And don’t try to skip out on your annual blood tests including cholesterol, hormone levels and blood sugar. If you don’t know what you are due for, talk to your healthcare provider about what tests are recommended for your age group.
As a heath advocate, I know how easy it is to get so busy with our lives and taking care of other people that we neglect our own health. It doesn’t matter if you made New Year’s resolutions or not. It doesn’t matter what month it is, or how close to the beginning or end of the current year. Today is the best day you can chose to do something to improve your health. Your body will thank you for it!