updated January 19, 2026
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but I think the start of a new year, whether the calendar year, your birthday, or any time, can be a prompt to evaluate our priorities and what we are doing to make them happen.
5 Health Facets to Evaluate
In this post I suggest 5 health issues we can evaluate and resolve to improve every year. I’ve listed links to previous blog posts and other sources to help you set goals and make them happen.
1. Resolve to healthier food choices
6 steps to losing weight and gaining hope
Less red meat + more vegetables = less cancer
Top Cancer-Fighting Foods from WebMD
2. Resolve to be more active physically
Most of us are not Olympic-level athletes, but we can all aim to achieve our best physical level possible.
A tour of the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado
A visit to the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs showcases the dedication and resilience of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Promoting physical activity, it emphasizes the health benefits of exercise, while sharing the “Winning Attitudes” and determination exhibited by champions. The center inspires a commitment to personal excellence and perseverance.
Keep reading3. Resolve to abstain from smoking
7 Surprising Reasons to be Smoke Free
In this post I remember how smoking has changed since I was a child. The health risk was minimized or even ignored. But that changed. Even so, it remains a leading cause of preventable illness. Here are resources for quitting .
Keep reading4. Resolve to experience and learn new things
Reading books may add years to your life, according to Harvard Medical School
6 Best Medical Books of the Past 75 Years
What are the best medical books written in the past 75 years? Here’s one opinion.
Keep reading5. Resolve to care about others
And the good Samaritan is…
Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan to answer the question,
“Who is my neighbor?”
The term “good Samaritan” means a person who goes out of their way to help someone, especially a stranger, often at personal sacrifice.
Keep reading
With my DAR chapter, I promote literacy in local schools by donating book gifts to kids at Christmas.
What will you resolve to do?
Which of these resolutions is important to you, or if not these, what is?
What will you gain by pursuing your resolution? What will you lose if you don’t?
What will you do TODAY to get started?
The cover image for this post was created with JetpackAI.
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These are really great health resolutions to re-evaluate on an annual basis. Helping others and always learning have so many health benefits that people don’t even realize. Wishing you a healthy and happy new year!
Shelbee
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I don’t make resolutions either, but I am actively working on getting my weight under control. My husband and I have recently started chair yoga. I thought it would be easy, but it’s a bit of a work out. I have never smoked a single cigarette in my life. When your dad has his first heart attack at 38 and completely changes your world, you aren’t even tempted. I lost both my parents to smoking related diseases so I always preached NO SMOKING to my kids and my students! I try to be a caring person, too! I love all these suggestions, and thanks for linking up!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Marsha,congratulations on taking steps to maintain and improve your health. I’ve never smoked either but my mother did and although she quit, it still affected her health and contributed to her death. I’m sad you lost your dad so early. I know you must be a caring person since you were a teacher; I have fond memories of many caring teachers to whom I am grateful for their encouragement. I think your former students are too. Thanks for sharing your insights.
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