“New year, new you!” If this is your motto, there is plenty to look forward to in 2022. Resolutions and goals go beyond fitness, and better health habits are about more than just looking amazing.
Goals can include exercising your mind by grabbing a great read or addressing your mental health so you can focus on your daily tasks.
These tips will help you accomplish what you set your mind to.
Exercise More and Get Creative With It
According to the annual American College of Sports Medicine’s Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends, some of 2022’s trends include home exercise gyms, wearable technology, and outdoor activities.
Some health insurance plans offer reimbursement for those using technology like fitness trackers to encourage exercise as a consistent health habit.
Of course, working out doesn’t require you to stay indoors. For example, you can go for bike rides or do yoga in your backyard.
If you’d like to combine fitness with a fun trip, there are plenty of great hot spots to pair it with, including places like Barbados and the Finger Lakes in New York.
Change Your Diet
The arrival of a new year often makes people want to start eating right as a part of developing new health habits. You may cringe before you eat your salad at lunch. But eating better food can drastically improve your health.
Weight loss is one of the common results of consuming healthy foods, and building good habits can help keep the pounds off.
A better diet can lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can strengthen bones and teeth.
Eating healthier won’t just make you look good; it can also improve your mood and make you more alert.
While health insurance companies are still considering healthy food as a food-based benefit option, eating healthier will lower your need to visit your family physician, and thus your budget for medical bills.
Address Your Mental Health Needs
Let’s not forget about keeping our minds healthy as a component of our health habits. Mental health is important for everyone, but it is easy to overlook depression in seniors, as some view it as a “normal” part of aging.
Increasingly, many young adults and even children are also struggling with anxiety and depression. But mental health challenges like depression and anxiety don’t have to be normal.
Fortunately, Medicare Part B can help offer coverage for seniors who want to address their mental health needs. Part B can include a yearly depression screening and cover family counseling.
Talk with your health care provider about if you need to review your annual policy and make adjustments to include Medicare Part B.
For younger adults and children, look into what your health insurance provides in terms of counseling treatment. And, in addition, limit time on social media, as that is a major aggravating factor.
Grow Your Family
A new decade is a great time to start growing the family you have been dreaming about. Preparing yourself for that big life change is an important part of good health habits.
According to The Huffington Post, the names of newborns will be greatly impacted by gender neutrality (Quinn and Remy), the Netflix show “Bridgerton” (Daphne), and names ending in the letter “s” (Miles and Wells).
If you plan to have a little one this year, check your health insurance for maternity coverage. Some coverage includes newborn baby care, outpatient services like prenatal and postnatal doctor visits, and hospitalization and physician fees.
Your Health Habits Are Important
With a little effort and diligence, you can accomplish your life goals, and taking care of your health will help you do so.
From stepping away from the TV to reading a great book, and saving money for a memorable trip, you can accomplish all of this with good health habits, which can keep you prepared to tackle your bucket list.
This guest article was submitted by Julie Morris from JulieMorris.org.
