Healthy Goals for the New Year

It's never too late to set yourself on course for healthier habits

In order to achieve your peak fitness level, you’ll need to find a workout routine. By Halfpoint/Shutterstock

It’s that time again. With the new year comes another New Year’s resolution, which is often viewed as something to be stated and then ignored. However, giving up so quickly may be doing yourself a disservice. One of the best ways you can take advantage of the resolution season is by focusing on your health. So, if you’re willing to give a resolution a try, here are four health goals for the new year.

Reduce Anxiety

Anxiety may be a helpful motivator in small amounts, but it can cause substantial harm if it flares up too often. Beyond the negative mental ramifications, it may also affect your physical health. You could develop issues such as insomnia and headaches. If anxiety is affecting you, reducing it is an excellent goal for the new year.

There are several ways to go about this, so you’ll need to experiment until you find one that works for you. One popular method is meditation, which calms the mind and can create higher self-awareness. If your anxiety stems from your thoughts, you may want to speak with a therapist. Mindfulness and self-reflection are also helpful. Diet and exercise can affect anxiety as well.

Become Fitter

Getting fit, in terms of your overall health, has little to do with body image. In fact, if you start thinking that way, it could be detrimental to your mental state. Instead, fitness involves improving your bodily health in both the short and long term. In the short term, physically active people are more energized and have stronger muscles and bones. In the long term, a fit body can protect you against diabetes, cardiovascular problems, some types of cancer, and even Alzheimer’s.