Welcome a Wellness-Filled Year: Your Guide to Getting Started
Table of Contents Help Others Discover – Click to Share! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Table of Contents The New Year arrives with a familiar sense of optimism. It feels like a reset button, an opportunity to leave behind unhealthy habits and step into a healthier, more balanced version of ourselves. Gym memberships surge, wellness planners fill up, and ambitious resolutions take centre stage. A recent study show that approximately 80% of all resolutions made for the New Year will be abandoned by the end of February! This is not due to a lack of motivation or willpower on behalf of individuals but rather a result of the fact that the majority of resolutions are created out of pressure rather than practicality. Individuals tend to put way too much pressure on themselves for an immediate outcome and become discouraged when they do not immediately receive results from their efforts. True wellness doesn’t come from overnight changes, it comes from sustainable habits, realistic goals, and access to care that fits into everyday life. Sustainable wellness can only be achieved through long term commitment and support. That’s where Cellmaflex plays an important role in modern wellness. Instead of chasing appointments or putting health on hold, Cellmaflex allows you to find doctors, pharmacies, labs, and imaging centres nearby, book appointments online without phone calls, and access your medical records anytime, anywhere. In this blog, we’ll explore why wellness goals matter, how to set them effectively, the habits worth focusing on, and how small daily actions, supported by accessible healthcare, can lead to long-term wellbeing. The purpose of Setting Wellness Goals? When you create wellness goals out of your intended healthy lifestyle choices, you turn your intention into structure. Otherwise, “being healthier” may remain an abstraction that can easily be postponed indefinitely. Research has demonstrated that people who establish specific, intentional, health-related goals are far more successful in achieving them than those who rely solely on motivation. Goals provide a mechanism for turning an individual’s awareness about health into an actionable strategy. In addition, wellness goals create habits that form the basis of long-term health. In contrast to temporary resolutions, habits impact the behaviours that you engage in on a daily basis e.g., walking regularly, drinking ample amounts of water, and attending preventative healthcare appointments. Regularly engaging in healthy behaviours significantly decreases an individual’s risk of developing chronic health conditions, thereby improving their quality of life overall. The most effective wellness goals are small, realistic behaviours that you can develop and maintain consistently. Research in behavioural science shows that people are less likely to succeed in making healthy lifestyle changes when those changes are large or drastic. Because small goals appear to be attainable, they motivate an individual’s ongoing commitment to improving their health, which is ultimately what keeps them invested long term. How to Set Effective Wellness Goals Setting the right goals can make the difference between giving up early and building habits that last all year. Define your goals using specific wording General goals e.g., “Exercise More” or “eat healthier” can’t really be measured in terms of how much you have achieved them as they are too broad and vague. Specific goals give you a clear idea of what you need to do. For example, “I want to walk 10 minutes every morning.” or “I will drink one extra glass of water a day.” Set goals that fit your life Your wellness goals should fit within your lifestyle and not be competing against your lifestyle. Very ambitious wellness goals usually will burn you out. Setting realistic wellness goals helps you build your confidence, as well as your momentum. Be consistent It is not a failure if you lost one day of doing something you said you would do. Being consistent means returning to doing what you have started and not having a perfect 100% record. Studies show that people who adopt a flexible mindset are far more likely to maintain long-term health behaviours. Track your progress The use of trackers increases motivation. A recent study show that people who use trackers for their health-related behaviours (including exercise, hydration, and appointments) are 2x more likely than those who do not use trackers to keep up those behaviours. Acknowledging achievement, even small milestones, should be part of the motivation process. Habits to Consider This Year If you’re unsure where to start, begin with the following three essential wellness habits. These habits will have tremendous impact without overwhelming you. Regularly Move Your Body Regular movement benefits our physical health, mental health, and emotional well-being. You can have improved energy and circulation from short bursts of activity (i.e., 10-15 minutes each day) and you have the benefit of increasing good mood. Intensity is not required for movement, but consistency is key. Drink Enough Water Hydration aids digestion, concentration, and energy levels. Studies suggest that even mild dehydration can affect mood and focus, making it harder to stay productive throughout the day. Make Rest and Sleep a Priority Although often overlooked, getting sufficient sleep cannot be emphasized enough. Adults who frequently get less than six hours of sleep per night have an increased risk for being fatigued, stressed, and immune compromised. Making rest a priority is not indulgent, it is essential to overall health. Manage stress and mental wellbeing Chronic stress affects both mental and physical health. Simple practices like mindful breathing, short breaks, or moments of pause during the day can help regulate stress levels and improve emotional balance. Stay up to date with health check-ups Be sure to follow up on your regular health examinations. Preventive care is one of the best ways to become healthy long term. With regular examinations, you can identify any potential issues earlier and reduce the possibility of complications related to those problems, while giving you peace of mind as well. Unfortunately, many individuals put off seeking preventative care due to lack of time and availability, and this is something that can be addressed through the use of digital health tools. Consistency is Where Real Change Occurs While there may be a wide variety of ways to become physically fit, consistency is the key to wellness. Experts agree that being consistent with small amounts of activity every day is a more significant impact on your overall health than being active a couple of times a week with high amounts. For example, a daily 10-minute walk will gradually add up, whereas an hour of intense physical activity once a week will only provide minimal results over the same period of time. With Cellmaflex you can: Locate