With 2024 quickly coming to a close, many of us are considering our resolutions for 2025. Frequently at the top of the list are health goals like losing weight, quitting smoking, and cutting back on drinking alcohol. Those are all excellent ways to improve both your mental and physical health, but we're going to suggest a few additional health goals that might be overlooked but are still equally important for your overall well-being.

Kick off your 2025 health journey on the right foot so you can lead a more fulfilling life! These positive habits will completely transform your personal health.

6 Health Goals to Strive For in the New Year

A healthier lifestyle is right around the corner.

1. Build Your Tribe

Fact: Many things in life are easier when you don't go at them alone. You are the company you keep, and the same applies to living a healthier lifestyle. If you spend time with people who have shared health goals, they will lift you up and encourage you. Conversely, if you spend a lot of time with people who have less-than-desirable habits, they might very well rub off on you.

How can you build your tribe? Group fitness classes are a great way to start! You might consider working with a personal trainer. Find a buddy to meal-prep with every week, or search for a local community that gathers periodically to meditate or go for nature walks.

Find people with common interests and make them your support system, and your 2025 health goals will feel more within reach.

2. Take Your Preventative Health More Seriously

One of the best ways to protect your overall well-being is to address health issues before they arise. Prevention is far better than treatment.

For older adults, this could mean colon cancer screening. If you're sexually active, STD testing is vital. If you're at risk for high blood sugar, learn more about diabetes screening.

Don't wait for something to go wrong. Get ahead of your physical and mental health with preventive health services.

3. Enlist the Help of a Trustworthy Therapist

Your mental and emotional well-being are just as important as your physical health goals. "But there's nothing wrong with me," you might be saying. It's a myth that therapy is only for people already having troubles. Minding your mental health should be a part of your preventive health plan. This could mean in-person or virtual appointments once or twice a month.

Therapy is most successful when you find the right provider for you. So, don't be discouraged if you have to try out a few different professionals before meeting one you really mesh with. Talk to them about what communication style you'll be most receptive to.

Even if nothing is "wrong," a therapist can serve as an objective third party who prioritizes your mental health and provides sound guidance. Don't wait until disaster strikes to seek professional help.

4. Improve Your Sleep Quality and Duration

We don't need to be psychic to know that you're probably tired. Most adults aren't getting adequate sleep. We're overworked and overstressed, and some of us are running on autopilot so much that it doesn't immediately hit us how tired we are... until it does.

Getting enough quality sleep is vital to your mental health and physical health. Create a sleep routine and get yourself on a schedule. This might mean putting away all devices by 8:00 p.m. (or at least one hour before your planned bedtime) so that the blue light doesn't disturb your body's melatonin production.

Avoid any foods that might disrupt your sleep, like spicy food that could give you heartburn or indigestion. Stay hydrated but don't drink so much that you'll be up in a few hours to use the restroom. Find ways to unwind, whether it's through meditation, a hot bath, or listening to gentle music. If your sleep hygiene routine is not helping, it may be worth visiting your healthcare provider. 

"I'll sleep when I'm dead." No! Sleep now.

5. Find Healthy Ways to Manage Stress

Stress, even good stress, will wreak havoc on your body, and the results will be compounded if stress is happening on top of a lack of sleep.

Work, bills, and family responsibilities are just a few common stressors. These might be impacting your physical and mental health on a daily basis. Add in less sporadic stressors — like planning a wedding or going through a breakup — and your nerves could be completely fried.

Rather than turning to alcohol, recreational drugs, or food to self-soothe, find safer methods. Some of the usual go-to's are meditation, journaling, and exercising.

However, stress management might look different for you, so it's important to try new things and see what most benefits your mental well-being! You might find that breathwork and groundwork are particularly helpful. What about Kundalini yoga or ice baths? There are endless approaches to explore — don't be afraid to step into new territory.

Oh, and did we mention therapy?

6. Take Better Care of Your Teeth

When schedules are busy and money is tight, oral health is one of the first things to go. However, it's not only about keeping your pearly whites sparkling. Did you know that there's a connection between poor oral health and cardiovascular health? This is why taking care of our chompers is one of the most important health goals we can all set for 2025 (and every year).

Most of us should be going to the dentist twice a year. When you visit, get the next appointment on the calendar so that you won't forget or be tempted to skip.

Cheers to a Healthy New Year

These physical and mental health goals are just a few ideas to get you started. Take it a step further by turning them into SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound).

What are you striving for in 2025 — eating fewer processed foods? Working less to live a more balanced life? Journaling affirmations to achieve a more positive outlook?

We're sending you all the support and encouragement for a successful 2025 and beyond.