Setting Health Goals for 2023

Floyd Valley Healthcare would like to wish you a happy and healthy 2023!  If you are one to set goals, better known as resolutions, when a new year begins, we want to give a few hints to help you be realistic and successful.

• Losing weight is generally one of the leading resolutions this time of year and a great step to a healthier you. Losing just five to ten percent of your body weight can help lower your risk of chronic health conditions including diabetes.

• Eating healthy includes not only what you eat but how you eat. Getting the  recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day is important because they are high in nutrients and fiber while being low in calories and fat.   Eating too fast can lead to overeating.  It can take your brain up to 20 minutes to get the message from your stomach that you’re no longer hungry.

• It is time to get moving!  An easy way to become active is to sit less and move more.  While heading to a gym may be too big of a first step, instead start small.  Park farther away from the entrances at work or stores, take the stairs instead of the elevator and try exercising while watching TV.

• See your primary care provider each year, even if you feel healthy.  Most insurance plans provide preventive care benefits that can help you stay on top of your health. Annual visits and preventive screenings allow your provider to identify minor health issues before they become bigger problems.
  
• Learning how to reduce and manage your stress level is a vital step in maintaining your overall mental and physical health.  This is easier said than done but researching ways to reduce your stress and using what works for you can help restore peace to your world.

• Good quality sleep gives your body time to rest and reenergize.  It also boosts your immune system and promotes emotional wellness.  Establishing a bedtime routine and creating a sleep-positive environment can help you be successful in getting the sleep you need.

• If you are a tobacco user, now is the time to quit.  Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Smokeless tobacco causes cancer of the mouth and can lead to nicotine addiction. Your healthcare provider can refer you to local resources and help you create a quit plan that is right for you.

New Year’s resolutions can be challenging, and many may fail. There is not a one size fits all approach! Setting goals that fit your lifestyle will help set you up to succeed. 

• Be specific. Use tangible goals that include data such as number of exercise minutes, number of days to exercise and weight to be lost.
  
• Be realistic. Start small and work your way towards your goals.  If you reach your goals, reassess and set new ones if you want.
  
• Track your success. Seeing actual data from a fitness tracker or simply recording your progress can keep you on track to reach your goals.
  
• You don’t have to be perfect. If you slip, acknowledge it and start again tomorrow!  Treating yourself occasionally can help you keep with your goals. 
  
• Celebrate your milestones. Break your overall goals into smaller, achievable steps and reward yourself when accomplished.

Taking responsibility for your health is an important first step.  Following these tips can help make sure you stay on track toward becoming a healthier, happier you.