Healthy habits in the New Year

1) Lose weight – This is perhaps the ultimate New Year’s resolution. Thousands, if not millions, of people resolve each year to begin losing weight on January 1st. Whether it’s 10 pounds or 100 pounds, this goal can be achieved! Our suggestion in order to attain this goal is to set small goals in order to achieve this over arching goal. Possibly start out by cutting soda from your diet, and then move into a more complicated diet or exercise routine from there. Remember, there is no such thing as overnight success with this goal.

2) Quit Smoking – As with any health habit, being intentional about the goal is of the utmost importance when it comes to making sure that you are able to follow through on the habit. The first step in intentionality is setting a date in which you will start, or in this case stop, a habit. Picking January 1^st as a quit date for smoking may seem arbitrary to some, but for those that are firmly committed to making a healthier life style choice by quitting smoking, it is very important. There are a lot of free resources, both online and offered by many state health departments, in order to assist you in your goal of quitting smoking. The health benefits of this goal are endless, and the feeling of being free of this bad habit is one that you will be proud of in the New Year.

3) Keep your hands clean – This may seem like a very small goal, but it can be easy to achieve with a few simple steps. First and foremost, start simple; make sure that you are constantly washing your hands. Washing your hands, and attempting to keep your hands away from your face, will help in keeping you healthy this year. If you are not able to be in an environment where washing your hands is convenient, make sure that you keep Sani-hands sanitizing wipes with you at all times. Keep Sani-hands for kids in your car for those times that you need to run through the drive through with the kids. If you are planning on spending the day at a museum or the library, make sure you bring along some sani-hands sanitizing wipes to clean up before and after leaving these public places. While you may not be able to make sure everyone you encounter in public has steadfastly kept their hands clean, you can at least make sure that you and your family are doing your part to stay clean and healthy.

4) Eat out less – This is another habit that requires planning and intentionality if you wish to pull it off this year. Start small by only eating out once or twice a week, and then cut it back to once or twice a month. The more you eat in and plan your meals ahead of time, the more control you will have over what you will actually be consuming in the New Year. This goal is one that you can have a lot of fun with since cooking and planning meals together as a family is not only enjoyable but it can also be used as a learning tool, teaching kids to create a budget, measure out ingredients, and have fun cooking while eating healthfully.

5) Get more sleep – Is there anyone out there who really feels like they are getting enough sleep? Most people on average claim to wake up feeling groggy and require some sort of stimulant such as caffeine to really wake up. Getting enough sleep not only can increase your energy throughout the day, but can also improve your mood as well as your appearance. It is suggested that in order to get a good night’s sleep you give yourself plenty of time to fall asleep, avoid any sort of electronic screens for up to an hour before bed time, and stop using caffeine at least 6-8 hours prior to bed time.

Hopefully this New Year the goals you set will be the goals that help bring about a happier and healthier you in 2013!