Our health is an incredibly valuable asset. Living well and keeping your body healthy will enable you to enjoy your years without pain or discomfort and you’ll have energy and vitality to do the things you love. While any time is a great time to make positive changes to your habits, the start of a new year is always good for motivating a fresh start. Here are 10 things to aim to do, and by this time next year think of the massive positive changes you could have made.

Eating a healthy diet

It’s no surprise that this is first on the list, eating well is one of the single most beneficial things you can do for yourself. This includes increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and limiting your intake of processed foods, sugary drinks, and saturated fats. Instead of focusing on weight loss or body image (as this can promote restrictive eating, cutting out important food groups and generally making yourself miserable) focus on health instead. Eat the things you know your body needs, allow yourself the things you love in moderation and enjoy your food. Learning to cook or aiming to cook more can be really useful here, as you can tailor your meals to make them exactly the way you want them and reduce things like oil, salt and sugar.

Exercising regularly

Another obvious but highly effective way to improve your health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, in addition to muscle-strengthening activities. The key is to find something you genuinely enjoy, not everyone loves slogging it out at the gym. Consider swimming, dancing or skating. If you have kids, take them to trampoline or bounce parks and get involved yourself! Go on bike rides, walks in nature or anything that gets you up out of your seat and your body moving. Fantastic for physical health, for mental health and can all round improve your life in so many ways.

Getting enough sleep

Most of us don't get enough sleep. We all lead busy lives, but it’s crucial to prioritise sleep, so aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to maintain good physical and mental health. Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time each day helps your body to get into a good routine, meaning you’re tired at bedtime and ready for a long, deep and restful sleep. Try reading a book before bed instead of using your phone, and create a wind down routine which could include things like drinking sleep tea, relaxing baths, meditating or journaling.

Getting regular check-ups

Regular check-ups and screenings can help you catch health problems early, when they're most treatable. This includes things like cervical screening tests for women and prostate exams for men once you’re invited by your GP. Optician appointments should be attended every two years, find yourself the best dentist in your area and attend every six months. You’ll save yourself time, pain and money if issues are caught at the earliest stage.

Managing stress

Speaking of winding down, managing stress is so important. This can include practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing. Stress is an unpleasant sensation but it’s something we all experience at times, so its important to have healthy coping mechanisms. Avoid dangerous vices, binge eating, overspending and gambling as ways to deal with your emotions. Finding healthy, productive things to do when you’re having a hard time will make it much easier to cope.

Quitting smoking

Smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of death and disease, so quitting can have a significant impact on your health. If you’re struggling then speak to your GP who can assist you with things like therapy or nicotine replacement as you wean yourself off.

Reducing alcohol consumption

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of health problems, so it's a good idea to limit your alcohol intake. Even if you’re not a binge drinker or see yourself as a heavy drinker, you may be consuming more than you realise. A glass or two in the evenings, a drink with a meal and a night out every now and again can all have the units adding up.

Health Goals That Are Worth Aiming to Achieve in 2023