Your health is unique to you, and your 2024 New Year wellness resolutions should be too. The start of a new year brings fresh motivation to improve your health. But with so much conflicting advice, it can be hard to know where to begin.
The key is remembering that generic resolutions don’t work for everyone. Your health goals should be based on your unique health needs. Labcorp OnDemand provides a wide array of tests to uncover insights about your health. For example, our Labcorp OnDemand Women's Health Test includes routine screening tests focused on women’s health, while the Labcorp OnDemand Heart Health Test assesses risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Once you understand where your health stands, you can work with your healthcare provider to set personalized goals. While big resolutions can feel daunting, making small, sustainable changes is an achievable way to get healthier in the new year. Here are five tips to help you meet your wellness goals this year by starting with routine screenings and customizing a wellness plan.
Get moving with 30 minutes of exercise
Regular physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. Aim to be active for 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week. You don't have to do it all at once, even short 10-minute bursts of exercise several times a day can provide benefits. Going for brisk walks around your neighborhood, taking an online exercise class or doing a quick strength training workout from YouTube are easy ways to get your heart pumping.
Establish a bedtime routine and get 7 hours or more of sleep
Quality sleep is vital, yet many of us don't get enough. Adults should regularly get at least 7 hours of shuteye per night. Going to bed and waking up at consistent times can help establish a healthy sleep routine. Unwind before bed by turning off screens, taking a warm bath or reading. Getting insufficient sleep can negatively impact focus, mood, immune health and more. If you feel exhausted all the time but don’t know why and steps like getting enough sleep are not working, you can purchase a Labcorp OnDemand Fatigue Test to uncover potential underlying issues affecting your energy levels.
Stay hydrated and eat more fruits and veggies
Drinking enough water and filling your plate with fruits and vegetables at meals are simple diet upgrades with big payoffs. Proper hydration is essential for digestion and helping kidney and liver function. Fruits and vegetables provide key vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants to nourish your body.
Make time for self-care
Don't neglect your mental and emotional wellbeing. Carve out time for relaxing hobbies, connecting with loved ones and activities that recharge you. Manage stress through yoga, deep-breathing and exercise. Prioritize yourself by scheduling self-care into your routine.
Get preventive screenings and checkups
Routine health exams are important to understand your overall wellness and spot issues early. Important screenings include annual physicals, eye exams, dental cleanings, skin checks and age-appropriate cancer screenings. Labcorp's OnDemand Comprehensive Health Test can conveniently check key health markers with a simple blood draw and urine collection, to measure cholesterol, triglycerides, average blood glucose (HbA1c) levels and other factors that may contribute to heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Staying on top of preventive healthcare empowers you to make informed choices about where you need to focus on in 2024.
This year, focus on small, sustainable steps to improve your physical and mental wellbeing. Consistency is the key—be patient with yourself and celebrate your progress as you work toward your health goals.
The journey to better health is a marathon, not a sprint. You've got this!
Don’t know where to start? Here’s our guide to routine exams and screenings for men and routine exams and screenings for women
