New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthier You

The new year is a time to begin again, to make new plans, new goals, and new choices. This year, if you’re trying to decide on New Year’s resolutions that will benefit your health, we want to help and support you! Here are our top New Year’s resolutions for a healthier you, and some tips for setting and achieving your goals.

New Year, New Goals

When setting your new year goals, it’s important to remember that your goals should be catered to you and your lifestyle. Especially if you’re setting health goals this year, you’ll need to keep in mind your personal challenges and limitations, preferences, schedule, location, and so on. Taking account of these things will help you set goals that you can accomplish—and that will actually benefit your well-being! If you’d like to get an even better handle on your resolutions, make sure they are S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound.

Finally, remember that your New Year’s resolutions are not end-all-be-alls. Many people experience shame, guilt, or pressure upon “failing” New Year’s resolutions early in the year. Counter this by setting reasonable goals that give you grace when you need it. And if you end up not meeting your goals at the end of the year, focus on the progress you’ve made and work on developing a growth mindset.

Ready to create some healthy habits for the new year? Read on for some common New Year’s resolutions and unique ones, too—all relating to health and fitness.

Fitness Resolutions

Here are some fitness-related New Year’s resolution examples. Some are more vague and open to interpretation, while others are more specific. Use these as a springboard to come up with good resolutions for yourself.

  • Build muscle.
  • Improve your endurance.
  • Train for a marathon.
  • Hang from a bar for one minute a day.
  • Pick up a new outdoor hobby.
  • Walk every day.
  • Stretch every day.
  • Track your steps.
  • Work out for 30 minutes a day.
  • Commit to small exercises during your downtime.

Dietary Resolutions

Some of the best healthy New Year’s resolutions are all about food—and not about depriving yourself of it. Eating nutritious food improves your physical and mental health in various and impactful ways. Here are some action items you can take to improve your eating habits this year:

  • Eat more fruits and vegetables.
  • Try new styles of cuisine.
  • Eat seasonally.
  • Try reducing your meat intake, maybe with Meatless Mondays.
  • Look over your food budget and shopping habits to see how you can afford more healthy food.
  • Visit your local farmer’s market on a regular basis.
  • Drink more water.
  • Add more color to your meals.
  • Practice eating mindfully.

Other New Year’s Resolutions for Health

Because there’s more to health than just fitness and food, here are some bonus health resolutions to boost your well-being in the new year!

  • Pay attention to your posture: It’s an easy thing to forget about, but good posture can improve your spine health and balance. Check in periodically to see how you’re sitting or standing and make adjustments as needed.
  • Make your mental health a priority this year: Your mental health is a crucial part of your overall health and life satisfaction, so don’t neglect it! Take time to promote relaxation, relieve stress, and do what makes you happy. Try taking up yoga, meditation, a creative hobby, or other strategies that can boost your mood and well-being.
  • Help your community by volunteering or donating to important causes: Giving is an incredible way to make a difference in your own life and to your neighbors and community. Volunteer your time or give what you can afford to create lasting and meaningful change in the world around you. If you’d like to support the important work of local food banks, consider donating to the SLO Food Bank today!

We hope this list has inspired you to make healthy plans this year! From all of us at the SLO Food Bank, have a happy, healthy, and fruitful new year!

About the SLO Food Bank

We at the SLO Food Bank believe that everyone has the right to nutritious food. That’s why we work hard to ensure access to fresh food for everyone in our community. We structure our programs in a few different ways to make fresh produce more accessible and affordable for those who need it. We also promote food assistance programs like CalFresh, while hosting food distributions in the most rural areas of our county, where a grocery store may be more than 50 miles away.

With our network of community partners in San Luis Obispo, we strive to alleviate hunger and to build a healthier community. If you’re in the area, check out our Food Locator to find food sources near you, or support our cause through volunteer opportunities or donations, if you are able to give. With reliable access to wholesome food, we are all healthier, happier, and more productive members of our communities. Donate today to help us bring health and happiness to San Luis Obispo County!