Healthy New Year’s Resolution Ideas And Tips for Achieving Them

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Healthy new year’s resolution ideas – from getting more sleep, to reducing stress, to losing weight -is a great way to improve overall health. Considering setting healthy resolutions? Here are a few to choose from as well as tips for achieving them – plus a quick look at my own personal goals for the next year!

gingerbread man on plate with open planner titled new year's resoltuions

Why Set New Year’s Resolutions

People generally set resolutions to improve something about their life. Oftentimes, this includes getting healthier!

It’s easy to get discouraged, though, because actually achieving news years resolutions is harder than it sounds. According to Forbes, only 8% of people who set new year’s resolutions actually achieve them!

You can be a part of the 8% by setting reasonable expectations for yourself.

If you’re interested in improving your overall health this year, here are a few ideas for you, as well as tips so you can actually achieve your goals and make getting healthier in the new year!

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Healthy New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Although some of these New Year’s Resolutions may seem too easy, maintaining new routines and habits can be a challenge. You’ll have the best success if you choose something that matters to YOU – not your friends or family. The best motivation and commitment comes from within.

Regular work-outs

There’s a reason gyms are so busy in January! Regular workouts are one of the most common New Year’s resolutions.

Getting in regular workouts can include things like hitting a daily step goal, taking a brisk walk, running, riding a bike, or taking a group class. Do something you love that requires movement!

Group classes are a great way to get extra accountability. I’ve been riding my NordicTrack S22i bike for about two years now and I love it, but I do miss the extra accountability and camaraderie of group classes I used to take.

Increase flexibility

As we age, being more flexible is important to make sure your body works more efficiently. It also prevents injuries and increases your muscle blood flow. Five to ten minutes of stretching two to three times a week is an easy way to increase your flexibility on your path to better health.

woman drinking from glass of water

Drink more water

According to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, women should drink about 11 cups of healthy fluids per day, and men should drink about 16 cups. The good news is water, tea, coffee, sparkling water, and kombucha count for healthy fluids! The bad news is wine does not. 😀

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Increase fruit and veggie consumption

Sadly, only one in ten adults in the US eats enough fruit and veg each day, according to a 2017 study by the CDC. Did you know that women are recommended to eat 1 1 /2 – 2 cups of fruit and 2 -3 cups of vegetables each day?

We’re trying to follow a more seasonal eating style at our house and try to choose in-season fruits and vegetables over out-of season foods. It can be tough to eat healthy, but it can be helpful to make a menu plan and try your best to stick to it.

I like to eat a big salad most days but definitely need to eat more fruit, especially in the winter.

Decrease meat consumption

While many of us struggle to eat enough fruits and veggies, eating meat isn’t a struggle. The struggle with eating meat is that in the US, especially, we tend to eat too much. Eating red meat should be limited to only a few times a week and processed meats are best to avoid entirely.

Quit smoking, if you’re a smoker

The best way to maintain a healthy heart is to quit smoking. I’ve never been a smoker, but if you are, 2024 might be the time to make a big change!

woman sitting by window with glass of red wine

Cut back on alcohol

While I am not a smoker, I do like my wine. Experts recommend one glass of wine for women per day, a few times a week. This is one area I need to do better at, for sure.

Lose weight

Getting to a healthy weight is a great goal as it greatly reduces your risk of heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and more. Maintaining a BMI of 18.5–24.9 is considered healthy.

Sometimes it is better to focus on a healthy habit such as moving more, improved flexibility, or being outdoors than to fixate on a number. Pay attention to how your body feels and how your clothes feel on your body.

Reduce stress

Being stressed contributes to all sorts of negative health problems like weight gain, heart issues, high blood pressure, headaches, acne and more. Take proactive steps this year to reduce your stress! Try a mindfulness routine, learn your triggers, and make a more enjoyable life this new year!

Take vitamins

It can be tough to get all the vitamins and minerals we need from healthy eating alone, so take some time to learn which vitamins you may need and start taking them this year. The right vitamins can improve your mood, help prevent headaches, boost your natural immunity, and help with stress and anxiety too!

woman resting in bed with sleep mask on

Get more sleep

Adults are recommended to get at least seven hours of sleep each night! Can you believe that one in three adults doesn’t get enough sleep? Getting enough sleep improves your immune system, reduces stress, and helps you maintain a healthy weight. Is it time for you to prioritize your sleep this year?

Take a vacation – the best of the Healthy New Year’s Resolution Ideas

My personal favorite of the Healthy New Year’s Resolution Ideas is to take a vacation! Taking vacations is another great way to reduce stress and keep you healthy. Even taking a staycation is better than leaving work vacation days unused!

healthy habits

Tips to Achieve Healthy New Years Resolutions

1. Set SMART goals – (specific, measurable, attainable, rewarding, trackable). Think long and hard about what you want to do and why. Do you want to go off a specific medication? Fit into a beloved pair of jeans? Reduce your cholesterol level? Think about why you want to get healthy and then write down a plan for doing so.

2. Add a timeline – You’ve probably heard that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. I’m not convinced that 21 is the magical number, but three weeks is a doable time frame! Committing to a new routine for three weeks, doesn’t sound so bad, does it? And if after 21 days you need more time to accomplish your goal, add three more weeks!

3. Track Progress – There are lots of ways to track your progress, from using apps to planners, to fitbits – find some way to track your own progress so you can see just how far you’ve come when you need motivation!

4. Involve  friends and family – it’s always helpful if you let other people know your goals and ask them to help keep you accountable!

5. Choose one area for improvement – If you try to change everything all at once, your body will say “What the heck is going on here?”. Choose one area for improvement and then make incremental changes. Small steps greatly increase your chance for success!

healthy habits

My Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for 2024

  1. Maintain weight loss – I lost about 35 pounds between 2021 and 2022 and I’d really like to maintain that weight loss. At the end of this year, I feel myself slipping back into some bad habits so it’s time to double down again so I don’t end the next year heavier than this year.
  2. Complete at least one race per season – I’m starting the year again with a 500 Mile Virtual Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge – Last year, I participated in the RAAWC for the first time. I originally signed up to complete 500 miles during the three winter months, which I achieved on my NordicTrack bike. I did such a great job, that I actually bumped up to the next level and managed to completed 850 miles from the first day of winter until the last day of winter! This year, I am committed once again to 500 miles, and I’d like to compete at least one race each season.
  3. Increase flexibility – I’m getting more flexible, but for a long time I couldn’t even sit criss-cross-applesauce – that’s how tight my hip flexors have been. It’s really not good to be that inflexible (I’m convinced it plays a role in the lower back problems I’ve had) and I’ve incorporated more stretching into my daily routine.
  4. Cut back on alcohol – The longest living populations in the world all drink moderate amounts of alcohol (1-2 drinks per day). I’m on par with that, as I have a real love affair with my red wine. Sometimes it’s hard to stop drinking that wine though – and it certainly contributes to my weight gain.
  5. Drink more water – I used to drink only water. I’ve since expanded to coffee and red wine as well. Sometimes I like a diet soda. Water has taken a back seat and I need to make sure I up my water intake this year.

More Tips and Ideas for the New Year

I’ve shared my healthy new year’s resolution ideas for 2024. What are yours? And what’s your best tip for being in the 8% of the population that achieves their goals?

About Michelle Marine

Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.

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