Health & Well-being
With the new year comes new goals for many of us. Whether it be fitness, nutrition, stress, or social management that you wish to work on this year, below are some great tips to help you achieve your goals in 2012!
Fitness
- Try a new fitness pursuit like cross country skiing, snow shoeing, or ice skating
- Exercise with a partner, two or three times per week, walk, jog, skate, ski, etc. (*remember that your community center has great fitness equipment and is centrally located for easy access!)
- Sign up for some personal training sessions to start the new year
- Visit sporting goods stores for after-Christmas bargains
- Use the stairs instead of elevators or park at the far end of the parking lot if possible
- Breathe. Take full abdominal breaths several times during the day
Nutrition
- Write a simple nutrition resolution to which you can commit
- Plan a healthy lineup of snacks for watching bowl games
- Make a strategy for limiting your food and alcohol intake at holiday parties
- Leave newspapers, books, and cell phones aside and EAT WHILE YOU EAT
- Try not to eat late at night, leaving a minimum of two hours before sleeping
- Enjoy many types of foods, but in moderation
Stress Management
- Block out an hour each week to relax
- Keep your life simple by organizing a messy room, garage, or basement
- Buy or check out a book on relaxation
- Play with a pet
- Get a massage
- Turn off the TV and listen to music
- Control your schedule and make time for reflection and relaxation
Social Health
- Volunteer at a shelter
- Invite friends over to watch bowl games (or decide not to watch them)
- Start a New Year's day family tradition Invite a friend or neighbor that lives alone to dinner
- Remember to play — play games, play with words, play with your children
- Plan comedy nights with family, friends, or coworkers
- Join or establish a group that reviews books or goes for trips together, or form a group based on your own theme
*information courtesy munsonhealthcare.org