Don’t Let Holiday Stress Get You Down: 7 Tips for a Merrier Season
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New Year, New You: How to Set and Achieve Your Health Goals for 2026
A new year presents a fresh opportunity to develop yourself and reach your full potential. This might include changes related to your health and wellness. January is the time to create your New Year’s resolutions list to serve as a road map to your goals.
Board-certified family physicians Clifton Etienne, MD, and Michael Cavanagh, MD, want to see you succeed in reaching your health goals for 2026. At Westmed Family Healthcare in Westminster, Colorado, we provide the tools you need to become healthier in the new year.
If you’re eager to improve your health in 2026, follow these tips for setting and achieving your goals:
1. Start with an annual physical
An annual wellness visit is a yearly appointment with your primary care provider to review your health from multiple angles. This visit can guide you in setting goals with intention, as it provides an opportunity to learn about the current state of your health.
Your annual wellness visit can help you identify areas of improvement to target in 2026. Our Westmed Family Healthcare team can give you tips for:
- Addressing hypertension
- Lowering high cholesterol
- Managing weight
- Sleeping better or more consistently
- Exercising more to support cardiovascular health
- Improving your diet
You can book an annual wellness visit at any time of year. If it’s been a while since your last physical, schedule one soon so you can use it to guide your new year’s resolutions.
2. Be realistic
When setting New Year’s resolutions, it’s easy to get carried away by aiming too high. Instead of being idealistic, set goals that are both measurable and realistic based on your starting point.
Setting unrealistic or unmeasurable goals may make you more likely to give up on your resolutions, especially if you’re just getting started on making positive changes for your health. Start with smaller goals or set regular benchmarks to reach throughout the year.
For example, if your goal is to get into shape after a long period without regular exercise, don’t aim for a marathon. Instead, aim for something more achievable this year, like being able to run a 5K by the year’s end or shaving a few seconds off your mile time each month.
3. Reach out for support
Accountability can help you achieve your goals. Let others know your goals, including family members or your primary care provider.
The people who know your goals and want to see you reach them can offer the motivation you need to keep going. They may even share some tips for helping you succeed that you hadn’t thought of on your own.
If you don’t trust anyone with your goals or want to surprise your loved ones with your changes, you can improve self-accountability by rewarding yourself each time you reach a significant milestone.
4. Check in regularly
Our team at Westmed Family Healthcare encourages you to continue to monitor your health. Visit our office for physical exams and other wellness services to stay in touch with your primary care provider.
Contact Westmed Family Healthcare to schedule your first visit for 2026. Call our office or book an appointment online today.
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