Healthy Lifestyle Tips for the New Year

Fitness

• Try a new fitness pursuit like cross country skiing, snow shoeing, or ice skating
  
• Exercise with a partner, two or three times per week, walk, jog, skate, ski, etc.
  
• Sign up for some personal training sessions to start the new year
  
• Visit sporting goods stores for after-Christmas bargains
  
• Use the stairs instead of elevators or park at the far end of the parking lot if possible
  
• Breathe. Take full abdominal breaths several times during the day

Nutrition

• Write a simple nutrition resolution to which you can commit
  
• Plan a healthy lineup of snacks for watching bowl games
  
• Make a strategy for limiting your food and alcohol intake at holiday parties
  
• Leave newspapers, books, and cell phones aside and EAT WHILE YOU EAT
  
• Try not to eat late at night, leaving a minimum of two hours before sleeping
  
• Enjoy many types of foods, but in moderation

Stress Management

• Block out an hour each week to relax
  
• Keep your life simple by organizing a messy room, garage, or basement
  
• Buy or check out a book on progressive relaxation
  
• Play with a pet
  
• Get a massage
  
• Turn off the TV and listen to music
  
• Control your schedule and make time for reflection and relaxation

Social Health

• Volunteer at a shelter
  
• Invite friends over to watch bowl games (or decide not to watch them)
  
• Start a New Year's day family tradition
  
• Invite a neighbor that lives alone to dinner
  
• Remember to play — play games, play with words, play with your children
  
• Plan comedy nights with family, friends, or coworkers
  
• Join or establish a group that reviews books or goes for trips together, or form a group based on your own theme

If you are a Munson Healthcare patient and have a compliment, concern, or complaint, please contact one of our Patient Liaisons.

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