Staying Healthy in the New Year

We at Mission Healthcare want to suggest some  New Year’s Resolutions that anyone at any age or ability level can do for a happier, healthier 2013.

Committing to New Year’s Resolutions that involve getting healthy can be daunting. Through the experience Mission Healthcare has accumulated through the years we have collected a few simple ideas that are not intimidating and can really improve ones’ well-being.

Below are some suggestions that can improve individuals’ mental and physical welfare during the New Year. We suggest selecting a manageable one to three resolutions to increase the chances of their continued commitment:

Drink more water: Dehydration affects all of the body’s systems and can cause or amplify many ailments, as well as interfere with metabolic processes.  Dehydration causes headaches, dizziness, confusion, negative moods, fatigue, and can result in fainting. In most cases, dehydration can be avoided or resolved simply by drinking plenty of clear fluids.  We always urge our patients to hydrate their body by drinking plenty of water. The suggested amount is at least eight glasses (8 ounces each) of water or clear liquids per day and more when you are feeling ill or exercising.

Hand washing: Washing your hands is the number one way to avoid getting sick.   This may seem simple, but washing your hands on a regular basis will keep you from spreading germs to surfaces and other people and it will keep you from transferring germs from surfaces like doorknobs and railings into your body.  Most germs enter the body when you transfer them to the food you are eating and ingest them.  Another way for germs to enter the body is to transfer them from a surface to your mucus membranes (nose and eyes) with your hands.  The average person touches his or her face 3-5 times a minute…that’s over 4000 times per day!  The need to keep your hands clean seems obvious, right?

Stop smoking: It is 2013 – the future has arrived. It’s time to quit. Period.

EFT-Emotional Freedom Techniques: Learn EFT! Emotional Freedom Techniques is a form of counseling intervention that draws on various theories of alternative medicine including acupuncture. EFT is a method comprised of tapping on ‘end points of the body’s energy meridians’ while focusing on specific issues such as life’s stressors.Mission uses this technique with patients to relieve stress. Using EFT can help soothe and clear your mind for a happier 2013. The best part is that EFT can be self-taught and self-administered!

Exercise: When you are feeling down or have the winter blues, get out for a brisk walk or find an activity you love that gets the heart pumping. Exercise increases endorphins, energy, improves the immune system, and decreases depression!  Exercise is also an essential component of just about every weight-loss program and weight loss is at the top of the list of most popular New Year’s Resolutions every year.

Music therapy: Another great way to nip the winter blues in the butt is to play music that brings you back to a nostalgic place and time. Mission uses this technique as a pain management tool for their patients who suffer from depression, chronic pain, and several other ailments.

Sometimes the simplest tools or slight changes in behavior can make all the difference in our physical and mental health. It’s just a matter of making a promise to yourself to learn a new technique or commit to a new habit.