Millions of us make resolutions for health goals each year. But most of us never stick to them. The reasons vary, but mainly, it's because we set the bar too high and unrealistic. Dieting and food goals must be achievable, and allowing yourself some time will help get you there. It can be hard for some, but you can break it down to help reach your goals for a great new year.

Make a Plan for Your Career

First, being ambitious about your career is one of the best plans you can have for your life. A higher-paying job opens up many opportunities, such as financial security and moving to a better neighborhood with better schools for the kids. Maybe you're a healthcare professional and want a BLS certification. Or, as an IT person, a CompTIA A+ can help land you a better job. Whatever it is, make a plan for how you can get it, and work towards progressing your career.

Dieting Resolutions for Health Goals

The big one is dieting! Dieting is something almost everyone grapples with, and many of us gain weight during the Holidays. On average, we gain between 0.8 and 2 lbs through Christmas and New Year. But we can be too hard on ourselves with unrealistic dieting goals and fad diets, which can be dangerous and offer temporary solutions. Adjust your lifestyle to eating a varied and balanced healthy diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals without resorting to fad diets.

Enjoyable Physical Activity

Getting more physical goes hand in hand with a good and balanced diet. Together, these are the most powerful ways you can get healthy and maintain a good weight. But don't be too hard on yourself. Exercise and activity should never feel like a chore, or it won't do you any good, and you won't want to do it. Find something you enjoy and stick with it. If you love high-intensity training, great, then do that. But just brisk walking, jogging, and swimming provide benefits.

Seeing Friends and Family More

Mental health is often secondary to physical health. But social attitudes are changing, and mental health awareness is becoming much better. One of the easiest and most powerful ways of staying well mentally is to see other people. Being socially included in things and being around others has a huge positive impact on your mental well-being and helps you feel more accepted. These will stave off feelings of loneliness and the depression that can follow it.

Taking More Time for Yourself

Further to mental health, it is vital that you take some time for yourself. Whether you have a family or are single, this is just as important. Being overworked and feeling hopeless in life happens to almost everyone. So, take a good look at yourself and consider healthy habits:

Say yes to the things you want, within reason, that are healthy and inexpensive.
Find and embrace the things that bring you personal joy so you can relax more.
Schedule small breaks for yourself whenever it's possible, even when you're at work.
Set boundaries between friends, family, and colleagues to make more time for yourself.
Disconnect from work and home life at least one day per week, including emails.
Try not to do everything yourself and delegate home or work tasks to family members.
Put yourself out there and get back on the dating scene to stay socially active in life.

Your time is your time, and it can never be regained. Organizing your day is a great way to manage time. But making the most of time shouldn't always revolve around work. Unplugging for a few hours a week will help make sure you don't become overwhelmed with responsibility.

Finding Ways to Laugh More

Laughing is a natural stress reliever that releases dopamine into your system. This makes you feel better about your current situation, others, and life in general. Of course, what we laugh at is subjective. But staying cynical about things, even if it is your personality, can cause stress and misery. Watch funny movies, stand up on Netflix, or goof around. Whatever it is that makes you laugh, then do it and embrace it. Just as long as it isn't at someone's expense, of course.

Embracing New and Exciting Superfoods

You may have heard of superfoods that can impact your health. Some common ones include blueberries, avocados, and dark chocolate. Most superfoods provide immense amounts of vitamins and minerals. But some also provide antioxidants. Antioxidants are vital for repairing damaged cells and keeping cells healthy. Oxidative stress from free radicals can cause premature aging and inflammation, and both contribute to physical and mental health problems.

Resolutions for Health Goals with Cooking

Learning to cook fresh food for yourself has major health implications. When you cook, you control everything that goes into your meals and reduce the impact of super-processed foods. Sadly, only around 50% of people in the US cook every day. Junk food, convenience meals, and dining out are more common than ever. But all of these are harmful to your health and can impact you mentally, too, based on the harmful chemicals and the costs of pre-made foods.

Managing Your Personal Finances

Further to costs, managing your finances has a major advantage when it comes to mental health. The stress of worrying about money can have severe negative impacts on your life. This includes arguing with your partner, borrowing more, and turning to bad habits. Bad habits for coping with financial stress include alcohol and drug abuse, gambling, and working more than is healthy. Therefore, financial management is one of the most vital ways to stay healthy this year.

Mapping out how you can progress your career is among the best resolutions for health goals. Taking more time for yourself also helps keep you physically and mentally healthy. This means saying no to excess work and even disconnecting every now and then. Further, managing your finances helps reduce some of the worst stress and keeps you away from some bad habits.

Featured