We have many priorities in the New Year that we look forward to, but is improved health one of yours? Your body is a foundation for physical and mental well-being, so why wouldn’t you want to treat it with respect and patience?

Imagine if we treated out bodies the way we might treat a new fashion trend or song on the radio. We’d start with a lot of enthusiasm and energy, then watch these things fade out before we retire them. How healthy can that really be if we do the same thing to our bodies?

Health is a Long-term Journey

Health is something we navigate through all stages of our lives. As we age and grow, we experience many natural processes that affect how we function. Depending on how we care for our body, it’s subject to change right alongside us.

That’s why nutrition, fitness and dedication to health are integral to our well-being at any given time of our lives. But you don’t just get there with the flick of your wrist! You have to stay dedicated and focused for the long haul. Consider these tips:

Think about the Present

How can you make decisions about the future if you don’t have a handle on the present? Right now, ask yourself how satisfied you are with your health and what about it you’d want to change.

Define and Refine Your Goals

It’s difficult to work toward something if you don’t know what that thing really is. What aspects of your health do you want to change? Where do you want to be in six months? A year? Map it out.

Develop a Plan

Carefully build a plan that will get you to your milestones. Do you want to increase your activity level? Pay closer attention to what you eat? Maybe a meal plan can help you shop for, prepare and commit to healthier meals to fuel a new workout plan.

Share Your Plan with Others

Find someone to hold you accountable and with whom you can open up to about your goals. You may find this process to be encouraging and motivating. For extra tips on letting others in on your healthy journey, please CLICK HERE.

Keep Yourself Motivated

Do you feel your mental energy wane with time? It’s time to re-examine your goals and get creative with finding new ways to challenge yourself. Create a new workout playlist, fill your refrigerator with fresh foods and write down your daily, weekly and monthly goals. As you make progress, find healthy ways to reward yourself.

Remember: the best things in life come to those who wait — or in this case, those who keep fighting the healthy fight! Your health is a journey that you and you alone will take, so saddle up and lay the groundwork for a healthier road ahead.