5 Healthy New Year's Resolutions To Make

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Still deciding on this year’s New Year’s Resolutions? This list of 5 Healthy New Year’s Resolutions To Make can help you pick.

To help you start the new year off right, check out our other New Year’s Resolutions posts.

A weekly planner with the words "5 Healthy New Year's Resolutions To Make" digitally written on top.

With the start of the new year just yesterday, it’s a good time to sit down and make your resolutions. The easiest way to make resolutions is to make ones that are realistic or to find healthy new year’s resolutions to make.

If you’re a couch potato, you probably shouldn’t make a resolution to run an Iron Man this year. There’s a reason why the Couch To 5k program is such a success. It’s realistic. You can go from couch potato to someone who can finish a 3.1-mile race. You might have less success at a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.22-mile run.

Let’s focus on your health right now. I put together a list of 5 New Year’s Resolutions to make to improve your health. They’re all fairly realistic, so I think you’ll be able to accomplish them.

5+ Healthy New Year’s Resolutions To Make

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Walk more

This one is absolutely one you can accomplish. I know this from experience because this was actually my resolution in 2017.

Sitting at home for work definitely wasn’t getting me many steps. I would average between 2,000 and 3,000 steps a day. It was so bad.

So I started January with a goal of 5,000 steps a day. I decided every month I would increase it by 500 until November, when I got to 10,000 a month. A small increment every month was a lot easier to tackle than deciding I needed to get 10,000 a day starting at January 1.

I’m actually accomplished this resolution. Having a fitness tracker definitely helped me keep track of my steps. Plus, there are apps to sync with your fitness tracker so you can earn actual money, and that’s a good incentive.

I was proud to get my 10,000 steps every day, but it did kind of get me a little obsessed. It got to be too much, so I am more realistic now.

My daily goal is three miles, which is what you need to earn points via the Dick’s Sporting Goods app. It works for me. Plus, moving three miles a day isn’t shabby.

Footprints in the snow with the words "How To Get 10,000 Stepws When It's Too Cold To Walk Outside" digitally written on top.

Tips For Walking:

If you need a little help getting all those steps in, depending on the season, check out our 10 Ways To Get 10,000 Steps When It’s Too Cold To Walk Outside (for now) and 10 Ways To Get 10k Steps When It’s Hot Out (for summer).

Plus, if you’re traveling, our How To Get 10,000 Steps On A Road Trip post will give you some great ideas.

A pink, gray, and blue water bottle on a shelf, with others around them.

Drink more water

Something you can definitely do for your body is to increase your water intake. Most people don’t get their eight glasses of water a day. I try really hard to get mine, but it definitely is something I have to think about. I drink water all day long, but if I’m not counting glasses, I’ll stop before I get to eight.

I’ve heard people say they don’t like the taste of water or it’s too boring for them. What you can do, then, is purchase an organic lemon, cut it into slices, then squeeze the juice of one slice into your water. Then, drop the rest of the lemon slice in as well.

That’s why I say buy organic.

Of course, you’re going to want to wash any fruit you buy at the store, but when you’re consuming the rind/peel (or this case, putting it in your water), you don’t want to ingest any potential pesticides.

If you aren’t consuming the peel, then I wouldn’t worry about organic.

You could also purchase a Soda Stream and make your own carbonated water at home. We have one and absolutely love it. Plus, carbonated water is a little more exciting than flat water. You could also add some flavoring to it, but be sure to check the calories on it before you do.

And, if you are drinking a lot of water, investing in a stainless steel water bottle is a good idea. Carry it around with you to remind you to drink. It’s better for the earth than plastic bottles and you can decorate a stainless steel water bottle with stickers or make a paint pour water bottle, which is fun.

A woman drinking water with the words "15 Ways To Drink More Water" digitally written above her.

Tips For Drinking More Water:

Don’t worry if drinking more water sounds daunting. These 15 Ways To Drink More Water will make drinking water a breeze. Plus, making a drink like our Raspberry, Kiwi & Strawberry Infused Water or Strawberry Infused Water is a good break from plain water.

Cut back on alcohol

Let’s kick this one off by saying this is a resolution for anyone who is of legal drinking age. Now, on to the resolution.

If you drink alcohol, this is the year you should drink less. For some people, drinking in moderation can be okay depending on what you’re drinking (more about that here). But, overlooking that, you might want to cut back on alcohol this year.

If you’re feeling incredibly motivated, you can try a Dry January.

We know going from not counting to zero drinks is hard. So instead, cut down on the number of drinks you consume. If you have two drinks a day, cut back to one, then one every other day, then one a week, and then zero. Scaling back is a lot easier than cutting out the habit completely.

And don’t beat yourself up if you’re at a party and you want to drink. Or if you decide that you’re not drinking alcohol during the week but you are on the weekends. It’s your life. Choose the lifestyle that works for you (as long as it’s safe and doesn’t go against anything prescribed by a doctor, of which I am not, so please, discuss this with your physician).

A Sierra Nevada glass filled with water and the words "Dry January: What It Is, What I Learned & Its Positive Affect On Me" digitally written above it.

Tips For Cutting Back On Alcohol:

A few years ago, Pete did Dry January. You can click that link to read his personal experience with it to help you understand what you’re signing up for.

Eat healthier

We cook every meal at home. I work at home, so one of the perks is being able to prep dinner when I have a little downtime. By cooking our meals, I’m able to choose exactly what goes in them.

I don’t use an excessive amount of butter and salt, I use fresh vegetables from our garden, and I stay away from most packaged items. By knowing what we’re eating, I can assure we’re not wasting calories.

If you’re trying to eat healthier, maybe start with bringing one bagged lunch to work every week instead of eating out five days a week. Not only will it save you money, but you’ll be able to pack something that you know is healthy instead of relying on a restaurant to make choices for you.

Maybe your family loves pizza on Fridays. That’s a great tradition. But it can get expensive, and maybe slightly unhealthy, if you order pizza every Friday.

Instead, make your own at home. Try our 2 Ingredient Dough Pizza recipe. It’s so easy and a lot of fun for the family. Everyone can make their own pie with their own toppings. We actually have a great list of Homemade Pizza Recipes, if that’s your thing.

Recipes To Make At Home:

Cooking at home is easier when you have easy recipes to make. They’ll give you the confidence to try more difficult ones.

If you want to start with chicken, which is pretty universally enjoyed, we suggest our Grilled Chicken Salad or Slow Cooker Chicken Soup. If you want to start with meatless recipes (so you don’t have to worry about over or undercooking meat), go with our Chickpea And Spinach Vegan Burger or Vegetarian Couscous with Zucchini, Chickpeas, and Tomatoes.

Phone a friend

A couple years ago, I made a mid-year resolution to keep in touch with my friends better. Maybe that means you may always have to be the one to text first. Or maybe it means that you will always answer, even when it’s late at night. Or maybe it’s just making sure to like every one of your friend’s Instagram photos, even if she never likes yours.

Friends are so important to our mental health — even if they’re terrible at keeping in touch. If they are, be the one who always keeps in touch. Don’t give up on that person just because they’re bad at texting back. Just try again next week.

Of course, cutting out toxic people is also good for your mental health, but friends who are just bad at returning calls aren’t toxic. They’re just ones who need to be called a second (or third) time.