Happy, Healthy New Year
The end-of-the-year holiday season is upon us and if you’re like me, you’re dealing with some holiday stress. I try to keep that at bay by being thoughtful about how I spend my energy. With so many holiday gatherings occurring, I choose to participate in only the events and traditions that will be most meaningful to me. And when I need help, I’m okay with delegating to others to represent me and Western Health Advantage at events.
A New Year means a fresh start, so I’m also thinking about New Year’s resolutions. It seems like a great time to make healthful changes. Here are a few things I’m considering.
Get Cooking: When life gets hectic, it’s tempting to fall back on eating out and takeout, but cooking definitely has its benefits. I’ll be aiming to cook more and include many healthy dishes.
Become a Social Butterfly: Research shows that social support increases a person’s survival by about 50 percent. So, I’ll be setting down my laptop more frequently and carving out time with friends each week.
Get My Heart Pumping: I plan to continue exercising. I aim to go to the gym for 30 minutes or so of weight training and/or moderate-intensity aerobic activity five days a week.
Talk to My Doc: It’s important for all of us to know our health status. I plan to visit my doctor for a physical exam and get any necessary health screenings or vaccinations.
Look on the Sunny Side: I’ve read that optimists are healthier than pessimists by several measures—overall longevity, disease survival, heart health, immunity and pain tolerance, to name a few. To influence my mindset when facing challenges, I intend to focus on visualizing positive outcomes rather than negative ones. I also plan to take a few moments now and then to think of something for which I’m grateful.
As we close out the year to begin another, I urge you to take time to think about how you can make healthful changes in the New Year. Commit to making those changes and chances are you’ll see a difference. And remember that optimism can have a profound effect on your physical health.
Happy New Year!
Garry Maisel is the President and CEO of Western Health Advantage. For more information about WHA, visit westernhealth.com.