20 New Year Resolution Ideas for Improved Health & Wellness

With January here, it’s that time of year to start thinking about New Year resolutions again. However, instead of throwing around any old goal, your resolutions should feel good to you. And in honor of National Staying Healthy Month, now is a great time to get clear on your wellness intentions. This month on the Vibrant Health blog we’re sharing 20 resolution ideas for improved health in all areas of your life — focusing on your physical, mental/emotional and financial health!

20 New Year Resolutions for Your Physical, Mental & Financial Health

New Year Resolutions for Your Physical Health

1. Make Sure You’re Up to Date with Your Preventative Care: Are you up-to-date with your annual physicals and wellness exams? How long has it been since you’ve had a dental cleaning? Make 2023 the year that you stay on top of your healthcare! And with January being Cervical Health Awareness Month, it’s a great reminder for all women to schedule a Pap smear — a procedure to test for cervical cancer (which is recommended every 3 to 5 years based on age)!
2. Try Incorporating More of a Plant-Based Diet: While going 100% vegetarian may not be in the cards for you, aiming to eat more of a plant-based diet is a more realistic goal. Here are some stress-free ways to eat more plant-based foods this year. 
3. Drink a Glass of Water First Every Morning: We know we should be drinking more water — but it’s easier said than done. One simple way to sneak in more water is to get a big glass in upon waking (before eating or drinking other beverages)! Yes, this means before your morning cup of coffee and bagel! Purchasing a new reusable water bottle can also be a nice reminder to hydrate up.
4. Aim for a Daily Walk: If joining a gym or starting a new exercise class seems daunting to you, start by taking a daily walk. Not only does walking have incredible cardiovascular benefits, but it’s also great for your mind. If you’re tracking your steps on a device like an Apple Watch or Fitbit, choose a realistic goal for you to increase your steps. For example, if you’re currently averaging 5,000 steps per day, aim for 7,500 — ultimately working your way up to 10,000 steps. 
5. Try Doing a Dry January: Dry January is recognized every year, encouraging folks to avoid alcohol for the month of January. This public health campaign focuses on developing better drinking habits and a healthier relationship with alcohol. Skip the booze for a month, opting for non-alcoholic beverages and creative mocktails instead!
6. Go to Bed Earlier: If you’re a night owl and tend to struggle with getting a solid night’s rest, try going to bed an hour earlier! Set yourself up for success by sipping a cup of herbal tea after dinner and shutting down from technology before bedtime. Try these additional healthy sleep techniques for better sleep in 2023!
7. Upgrade Your Supplements: Does your wellness cabinet need a makeover? Give your supplements an upgrade by choosing those that support your unique wellness goals! Vibrant Health offers a variety of superfood supplements for every body — no matter where you are on your wellness journey. 

New Year Resolutions for Your Mental & Emotional Health

1. Create a Healthy Morning Routine: Start your day on the right side of the bed with a morning routine! Here’s how you can create a healthy morning routine that feels good to you.
2. Sign Up for Weekly Therapy Sessions: If you’ve been considering trying therapy, the New Year is a great time to put your mental health first by taking action. Work with a local professional or consider trying online therapy through a company like BetterHelp.
3. Start a Daily Gratitude Journal: Taking time to acknowledge what you’re grateful for can help create a more positive mindset. This year, make it a goal to keep a daily gratitude journal — writing down one to three things you’re grateful for every day!
4. Take a Social Media Detox: If social media is affecting your mental and emotional wellbeing, it may be time for a break. To start, choose one day per week to do a “Social Media Detox,” logging out of your social platforms so you can unplug and be more mindful.
5. Plan Monthly Outings with Friends and Loved Ones: Between the ongoing pandemic and winter hibernation period, you may feel isolated from time to time. This year, aim to plan monthly outings with friends and loved ones to be present through meaningful connection and conversation.
6. Meditate for a Few Minutes a Day: If meditating seems daunting to you, start with just a few minutes each day. One easy way to incorporate meditation is by enjoying a mindful cup of tea or coffee. As you sip your warm beverage, take a moment to reflect on what you’re grateful for and set an intention for your day! 
7.  Speak Up About Mental Health: The Little Things campaign is a mental health campaign observed in January — highlighting the little things individuals can do to improve their mental health. One little (big) thing you can do? Talk about mental health! This year, help break the stigma around talking about mental health by sharing your stories and struggles.
8. Spend Time in Nature Daily: Want to be happier and healthier this year? Get outside! Research has found that even 10 minutes spent sitting or walking outside can work wonders on one’s mental health and wellbeing.

New Year Resolutions for Your Financial Health

1. Create a Healthy Budget that Works for You: This year, get clear with your goals and create a healthy budget that works for you. Mint is a free app that can help you track your budget and take charge of your finances! 
2. Cancel Your Unused Monthly Subscriptions: Do you have dozens of subscriptions you rarely use, if at all? Take a look at your subscription services and cancel anything that’s no longer relevant to you!
3. Create a Financial Plan: January is Financial Wellness month — a great reminder to focus on your financial wellbeing too. One of the first steps to doing so? Creating a financial plan for the year ahead.
4. Hire a Financial Advisor: If talks of budgeting and financial planning hurts your head, you may want to consider hiring a financial advisor. A professional can give you honest, objective advice when it comes to managing your finances — helping you come up with a plan that works for you. 
5. Cut Back on Ordering Out: Takeout lunches, dinners out and daily trips to the coffee shop add up. While it’s great to budget for these things, do your best to cut back on ordering out by making your own meals and coffee at home several times per week. Not only can this help you save money, but it can help you eat healthier by controlling the ingredients that go into your meals. Win, win!

DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by a competent health care professional. You should not use this information in diagnosing or treating a health problem. No claim or opinion in this blog is intended to be, nor should be construed to be, medical advice. If you are now taking any drugs, prescribed or not, or have a medical condition, please consult a competent physician who is aware of herb/drug interactions before taking any herbal supplements. The information presented herein has not been evaluated by the FDA or the Department of Health and is not intended to diagnose, prevent, cure, mitigate or treat any disease or illness.