By: Jim Reilly

Not scientifically reviewed by Dr. Eeks

It’s a new year, which means it’s a time when most people think about some changes they want to make in their lives. There’s no denying that a lot of us have let our health slip due to the pandemic. And that’s okay – it was a rough time for everyone. However, you may feel that you are ready to start focusing on your health.

If that’s the case, this post is here to help. Keep reading to learn about five things that you can do to improve your health in 2022.

Go for regular checkups

Most of us are guilty of only going to the doctor when something is wrong. The same can be said for optometrists, physiotherapists, dentists . . .  basically any healthcare professionals. Of course, you absolutely should go to these specialists if something is wrong, but you should also consider seeing them even if you think everything is fine.

That’s because there are often underlying issues that we aren’t aware of, and regular checkups can help detect these issues and prevent them from getting worse. If you keep wanting to schedule these checkups but you’re constantly forgetting, try to make note of it in a calendar app.

This year, you should put in the effort to see your doctor and dentist at least once for a checkup. If you don’t have a dentist, have a look at this dentist in Sandy, Utah to see what they can offer you.

Work on your diet

Would this even be an article about health if it didn’t mention your diet? While you may be bored to death hearing it, your diet has a major impact on your health.

Keep in mind that working on your diet doesn’t necessarily mean you need to actually go on a diet, but rather that you should be more mindful of what you put in your body. Start with small changes. Eat less processed foods and more fruit. Try to cut out meat one day a week.

You may be surprised at what an impact a change in diet can have on your life. It can even help with your mental health if you look at things like the best diet for depression.

Drink enough water

One thing that almost all of us can benefit from is drinking more water. It’s just something that a lot of people don’t do. Many of us have the habit of reaching for soda or making coffee when we’re thirsty. While these things aren’t bad for you, you should try to limit how much of them you consume. Try to increase your water intake by one glass a day for a week.

After that, try increasing it by two glasses. Then three. Eventually, you will notice that you may have more energy, sleep better, have better skin, and also have fewer food cravings. There truly are so many benefits to drinking water.

Be more active

We all know that we need to exercise to be healthy. And yet, many people hate exercising. They hate running or doing push-ups, and so they never exercise.

If you’re one of those people, here’s some good news: there are plenty of kinds of exercises out there. This means that you should try different forms of exercise until you find something that works for you.

If cardio isn’t your thing, why not try something like yoga?

Focus on your sleep schedule

Many people struggle with their sleep, and this is a problem that has only worsened due to lockdown. While you may think that sleep doesn’t have much of an impact on your health, the opposite is in fact true – sleep can be very important when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.

Keep in mind that your sleep schedule will depend on many factors, so this sleep cycle calculator might be helpful when it comes to ensuring that you get enough sleep.

In conclusion

People often think that living a healthy life is hard. Of course, it can be, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need to live off of vegetables and spend ten hours in the gym each week. Even small changes can help you improve your health.

In fact, these small changes might be the most effective, since it’s a lot easier to stick with them. If you have a bad day where you’re not healthy, don’t give up! No one is healthy all the time. What matters most is that you try your best and that you are consistent with your health changes most of the time.