It’s nearing that time of year again, where many of us silently promise ourselves to tackle a new resolution. In 2019, 54% of Americans committed to eating healthier, and 48% made a resolution to lose weight. Perhaps you’ve decided to add yourself to those numbers this year.
Resolutions are exciting to make, but many are familiar with that feeling of disappointment when a goal isn’t met. Scott Bea, PsyD of Cleveland Clinic, suggests that the “stress lingering from the holidays” actually makes New Year’s Day one of the toughest times to set a new goal. This might be why many resolutions lose momentum come February or March.
The Harvard Medical School proposes breaking your big overall goals into smaller steps that are realistically achievable, and congratulating yourself along the way to stay motivated. Even the smallest step towards bettering your health is a step worth taking.
Beyond the common diet, exercise, and weight loss goals we mention above, there are other aspects of our health that deserve their own resolutions. So, in order to help spice up the mix — and perhaps motivate you in new ways you can really stick with — here are some suggestions to focus on in 2022.
1. Weightlifting to Improve Bone Density
Bone density is important to our overall health. If our bones lose their integrity, they become more susceptible to breakage, which can lead to all kinds of other problems. But studies have shown that weightlifting helps to maintain our existing bone structure as well as promote new bone growth. So maybe this New Year, you can resolve to spend a little time each day or a few times a week doing some load-bearing resistance training to benefit your skeleton!
2. Improve Brain Health with Daily Mental Stimulation
Aging has a negative impact on a person’s mind and memory, but neurobiologists are finding that mental stimulation can limit the effects that age has on one’s memory.
Dr. Anne Fabiny, chief of geriatrics at Cambridge Health Alliance and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School recommends four strategies for maintaining a healthy brain:
- Continuously learning
- Making your brain work hard
- Straying away from your comfort zone
- Engaging socially with others
Jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, and other challenging mind games are great ways to provide a little extra stimulation while also keeping you entertained. With each new challenge or intriguing conversation with a friend, you are improving the long-term health of your brain.
3. Keep Up with Your Screenings!
Preventative health screenings can increase the chance of an early diagnosis of a variety of health conditions, which often make treatment more effective. Commit to maintaining your recommended health screenings in the coming year as a simple resolution that will keep your body healthy and your mind at ease.
By providing reliable medical imaging services — such as CT Scan, MRI, Bone Density Scan, Ultrasound, Arthrogram, Fluoroscopy, 3D Mammogram, Breast Cancer Screening, and X-ray services — the professionals at Cardinal Points Imaging can help you to keep an eye on and improve your health all year long. To schedule an appointment, please visit our website or call us at (919) 877-5400.