New Year goals often referred to as New Year resolutions, is a time when people set personal objectives to bring about positive changes in various aspects of their lives such as finances, career, relationships, and health. Health goals involve specific objectives to improve one’s well-being, they can include various aspects of your well-being such as losing weight, eating a healthier diet, and exercising more. Here are 6 health goals you can set for the year 2024.
- Eat Healthily; make a resolution to eat healthily, this involves eating whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and fish. Eating healthy according to research decreases your risk of certain types of disease. You can start by eating fruits once a week or adding one serving of your favorite veggie to your diet every day.
- Cut down on sodas and junk; soda and junk are linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, and insulin resistance. In a case where you are craving something sweet, you can swap junk with healthy snacks such s granola bars.
- Sleep well; sleep is an essential part of your health, and sleep deprivation can lead to heart disease and depression. Aim for quality sleep this year, according to research it is recommended to get an 8-hour sleep per night. Creating a nighttime routine, decreasing screen time, and cutting back on caffeine are ways to improve sleep.
- Exercise; research shows that just five minutes a day of running is all it takes to reduce your risk of death from cardiovascular disease. According to studies also, it is important to get two and a half hours of moderate physical activity each week, or about 30 minutes five days a week. Engage in physical activity to boost your well-being, it can be activities like running, walking, or simple yoga stretches.
- Engage in Hobbies; hobbies are important for your mental health, they help reduce the risk of depression. Hobbies can include anything, it can include playing a sport, cooking, singing, and dancing, these activities can improve your health by relieving stress, elevating mood, and even lowering blood pressure.
- Regular Checkup; getting checked regularly is important, it can help spot potential problems before they turn into something serious. Regular check-ups also let you know the state of your health.
MUST READ;5 Exercises for Cardiovascular Health – FOOD-AN-HEALTH (foodanhealth.com)
When setting your health goals, start by identifying the areas you want to improve, set clear and measurable goals, give a time frame for achieving your goals, break down your goals into small actionable steps, get an accountability pattern, and lastly, consider setting your goals with your healthcare providers, they can provide personalized advice based on your health status and goals. Stay healthy.