Resolutions for a Healthy and Happy New Year!
New Years
Famed poet T.S. Eliot once said, “Every moment is a fresh beginning.” The promise of a fresh start is also felt at the dawn of the new year. As 2024 gets underway, it’s common for people to make resolutions to improve their lives in one way or another. Against that backdrop, however, is the reality that many people may face challenges and obstacles that can test their resolve just weeks into the new year.
So, how do you stay on track with your resolutions? We got some advice from Maria Azzarelli, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion Manager with the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD). She said resolutions should be tangible and precise. Instead of declaring, “I’m going to exercise more,” try saying, “I’m going to exercise twice a week for 10 weeks,” or something specific like that. Azzarelli added, “Don’t take on too much. Pick one or two things to tackle and track your progress.”
Surveys have shown that typical New Year’s resolutions routinely include losing weight, eating more nutritious foods, increasing physical activity and quitting smoking. SNHD’s GetHealthyClarkCounty.org website is an interactive, user-friendly site that provides easy access to a variety of tips, tools and no-cost programs to help you improve your health. The site can be a springboard for people looking to quit a bad habit, start a good one or otherwise improve their lifestyle.
Looking for inspiration to increase your steps? Walk Around Nevada on the Get Healthy site helps people reach their activity goals by tracking their daily physical activities on a virtual journey across the state. Similarly, the Neon to Nature mobile app encourages people to be active on the Valley’s trails. This program highlights over 1,000 miles of trails, providing maps, trail information, amenities and photos.
Good nutrition provides fuel for active, healthy lifestyles. The Nutrition Challenge is a free eight-week, online program to help people increase their intake of fruits and vegetables each day. The Get Healthy website also provides useful information on where to find local farmers markets that accept SNAP benefits. It also shows how to reduce sodium in your diet and limit sugary beverages.
Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world, and quitting the habit often holds a top spot among New Year’s resolutions. SNHD Senior Health Educator Malcolm Ahlo offers the following tips for becoming smoke-free:
- Select a specific date for quitting.
- Enlist support from family, friends and loved ones. Tell them your plan.
- Adopt new behaviors to replace the ones associated with smoking.
- Look into FDA-approved medication and nicotine replacement therapy.
- Don’t give up if you relapse. Celebrate your successes along the way!
Ahlo urges people who wish to live smoke-free to call the Nevada Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free and confidential one-on-one coaching on how to quit. Also, the Nevada Tobacco Quitline offers free Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) like patches, gums, lozenges for those who qualify. People can get additional information by visiting the Get Healthy website.
New Year’s is a great time for everyone to refocus on their health and wellbeing, but these resources are available year-round to support people at any stage of their wellness journey.
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