9 Resolutions to Make for Your Health

Author: Justin Mckibben

With the beginning of the New Year, we remember those not-so-smart choices we made back in 2014 and hope that 2015 will be a little more on par with our healthier life choices. I recovery we often learn to acknowledge our less healthy habits, and adapt to a more empowering and fit life-style. But at the same time, we also have a tendency to pick up a few other nasty habits to replace our impulsive behaviors.

Here are 9 resolutions to make for your health this year, while some may not be as obvious, others may be more surprising.

1. Pulling all-night-ers

Staying up late News Year’s Eve may be a bit of an exception if you’re trying to watch the ball drop, but more often than not it’s a better idea to be conscious of how much rest your body is getting.

At the end of the day, no matter what else you’re doing to improve your health, sleep is one element that could make or break it.

2. Relying on coffee and energy drinks

While it is understandable to drink coffee or energy drinks when you need that liquid fuel stay afloat, but it is not the healthy way to energize.

Coffee and energy drinks can do more harm than good. Relying on them to keep you awake and alert can become one of the most unhealthy habits. What’s better for you? This crazy new thing they’re calling ‘WATER’ that apparently has been around since ever.

3. Eating junk foods

Excessive sugar from gorging on junk foods can do a number on your teeth and cause tooth decay. Not to mention increasing risk of diabetes. Excessive salt increases the risk of heart disease.

4. Tanning

While living in south Florida, this was one that I became pretty conscious of. Sun damage from unprotected tanning, or just tanning too often, is one of the quickest ways to age your skin and the damage is often irreversible.

Tanning also increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Wear sunscreen!

5. Smoking

Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer, shocker! It also creates cancers that affect both genders. Not smoking considerably decreases your risk of lung cancer, as well as things like heart disease and stroke.

Smoking may be the bad habit you’ve been holding on to. People in recovery often do, so take notice of the opportunity.

6. Skipping Meals

I skip lunch almost every single day, mostly without even noticing I’m doing it. Many people skip meals because they are busy or because they are trying to drop a few pounds.

It seems harmless, but as you get older it becomes apparent that skipping meals does not help much to lose weight. Slipping healthy snacks throughout the day is a good way to stay on top of it and revitalize your metabolism.

7. Not Exercising

This may seem like a DUH moment, that excercising is important for health, but many people don’t seem the importance in at least staying active.

A resolution to exercise most days of the week for at least 30 minutes can change everything. Nobody expects you to become a professional body-builder or even get in shape for bikini season, but staying active can be the thing that saves your life. To to incorporate:

• Flexibility
• Cardiovascular
• Strength training

8. Stress

Stress is so heavy on the mind and the body. Of course we know that it can cause a lot of mental and emotional anguish when we are constantly under pressure or anxiety, but to understand that stress takes a serious toll on the body means to understand we have to find ways to cope and relieve that stress.

But how could we possibly do that? Well I don’t know, maybe re-read number 1- 7

9. Loud Music

Hearing is one of the most important senses that anyone can have. Things like hearing aids exist because of that, but still before you ever need to worry about that you can take charge knowing that protecting your natural hearing is very important.

I know I know… New Year’s Eve you favorite song was ‘Turn Down For What?!’ So how can we expect you protect your hearing? Personally this is a tough one to follow for me, but if I want to be able to hear the best new jams in 2015 I should probably remember to turn down for my ear health… at least during radio commercials.

Whatever you do with the New Year, just remember that not everyone is as fortunate as we are to be enjoying it the way we can, and that letting go of a few bad habits is almost small time compared to some of the things those of us in recovery have already had to let go of. And if you have not begun your journey of change, the best resolution would be to take that first step. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free 1-800-951-6135