Six Tips for a Safe, Healthy, Happy New Year’s Eve and New Year

For most people, the New Year is a time for reflection and usually elicits memories of events from the passing year – some happy and some sad. But starting a New Year also provides an opportunity to make a commitment to lead a safer and healthier lifestyle. If you’re looking for ways to do so, read these tips below.

Sunset at Moonlight Beach - Encinitas, CA - June 2016 by Carole Jakucs. Image subject to copyright.

Distracted Driving – Don’t text, talk on your cell or do anything that takes your eyes off the road while driving. Distracted driving has caused a huge increase in the number of traffic accidents and fatalities. Ask yourself – is reading or sending this text so important that it can’t wait? Is sending it worth slamming into another car and injuring someone else? Just like driving under the influence – there is no reason to drive while distracted as doing so can very well cause someone else’s permanent injury or death (and possibly even your own).

Don’t drink or do drugs and drive. Even one drink can alter your mental acuity. It’s not worth it. Why place yourself and others in harm’s way. With the existence now of ride/driving services and the old standard taxi – there is truly no excuse for driving under the influence. If you have an alcohol or drug problem, consider joining AA, NA or talk to your healthcare provider to get the support you need to quit.

Start exercising – If you already engage in the minimum recommended amount of 150 minutes of physical activity per week then bravo - keep it up! If not, why not? Start with 30 minutes of walking three times a week. If you don’t think you have the time – find the time. Take walks on your lunch break or wake up 30 minutes earlier to work-out. If you're a boss, try holding occasional walking meetings to break up the boredom for staffers and invigorate minds and bodies. Regular exercise helps to reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, decreases stress levels and helps to maintain a healthy weight and better mood.

Eat healthier – Increase your intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Reduce the bad fats such as trans and saturated and increase your intake of good fats such as omega 3’s. Limit or eliminate junk and processed foods. If you want to indulge in a treat – just have a taste. Try the “my plate” method to help guide you on portion control. If you’re going to a party, don’t arrive hungry – have a nutritious snack one to two hours before hand so you don’t overeat. A glass of milk or apple  wedges with natural peanut butter can help take the edge off your appetite.

Don’t smoke – Whether you smoke cigarettes, marijuana, cigars, electronic cigarettes – none of them are healthy. They all damage the lungs. And second hand smoke hurts those around you too. If you want info on where to start with how to quit smoking, read here.

Live your dreams – Whatever goals you have such as going back to school, changing jobs, learning a language or taking that special vacation – use the New Year as a motivator to reassess your goals in a positive way and focus on what you want to do with your life.

Recharge Your Resolutions

February is nearly over.  Do your New Year’s Resolutions seem like a far off dream, a hazy memory of an agreement you made with yourself a few months ago? It’s not too late to reignite your goals and get back on track. February is the month for Heart Health awareness and a good time to review where you are at, and where you want to go. Also, habits that are good for the heart are good for the rest of the body too.  Here are a few tips to get started.

• Set Realistic Goals for weight loss, exercise and diet:
• Weight Loss – Did you plan to lose 15 pounds in 8 weeks (by the end of February) and you realized you have only lost 2 pounds thus far? Lofty plans can easily get sabotaged and lead us to giving up entirely. Reset your goal for a 4 pound loss in 8 weeks,which is one half (1/2) pound per week. This is much easier to achieve and better reflection of reality.
• Exercise – Did you aim for daily exercise and found it was too much and have now stopped exercising all together?  Reset your goal for exercising to 3 days per week for one month.  Once you have worked that into your schedule and get use to it, you can add a 4^th day per week for the 2^nd month, a 5^th day the 3^rd month etc.; adding another day per month until you reached your goal of 6 or 7 days per week of exercise. 

• Diet – You wanted to eat healthier and know that one of the best ways to do that is packing a healthy lunch for work or school every day containing fresh produce, whole grains and lean proteins.  If daily brown bagging is too much for you, start off with 2 days per week. Just as with the “exercise” plan above, add another day per week each month, until it becomes 2^nd nature for you to plan healthy meals and pack your lunch. You will save money too.

*Contact your doctor before beginning any weight loss, exercise or diet program.

• Medical and Dental Checkups – Have you scheduled your annual physical/preventative care visit with your doctor? How about your next dental cleaning and check up? These are important for everyone; both males and females at every age for health maintenance, to obtain preventative care and also important to catch any problems that may be developing that require testing and, or, treatment.
• Sleep – Are your getting 7 hours of sleep per night? Chronic Sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain, depression, hypertension and predispose you to Type II Diabetes. It also decreases your cognitive function during the day. Adults should try to get 7 – 8 hours of sleep each night for optimum health. Infants, children and teenagers need more than that.

For a quick acronym to help keep you on track, see this link: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/01/doing-these-5-things-leads-to-better.html

Make this year the best yet, by reaching the goals you have set for yourself and your health! *Contact your doctor for any questions or concerns you have about your health.