As the new year rolls around, it is time to get started on New Year’s resolutions; these can include physical and mental changes. 

According to Health.com, it is a great time to start implementing new healthy habits into your life.

Some of the suggestions include:

• Drink water 
• Get outside – walk your dog, go hiking, dancing, or running.
• Connect with your friends (virtually)
• Take stretch breaks

According to Harvard Health Publishing, drinking water has many health benefits, including normalizing blood pressure, stabilizing the heartbeat, and protecting joints, muscles, and organs. 

Along with drinking water, Harvard Health Publishing said that going outside raises levels of Vitamin D, encourages more exercise, and overall makes you happier. 

Taking time to talk to friends near and far every day boosts your mental and physical health. 

The Mayo Clinic said, “Adults with strong social support have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). Studies have even found that older adults with a rich social life are likely to live longer than their peers with fewer connections.”

While connecting in a pandemic is hard, there are many ways to connect with friends virtually, like WatchParty, Facetime, and many more.

Harvard Health Publishing said, “Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.”

Incorporating these small tasks into your daily life could have a huge impact on your mental and physical health.

Take some time this year to focus on yourself and start new healthy habits.