9 Women Reveal How They Plan To Make This Year Their Healthiest Ever

There are a lot of ways you can resolve to get healthier this year.

1. Find the right doctor.

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"I decided that this year is the year I will go out of my way to find truly exceptional doctors with whom I feel heard, starting with my gynecologist. This is especially important to me now that I'm starting to really think about my fertility. I refuse to be passive with my own health and comfort."

—Casey C.

2. Experiment with different types of workouts.

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"In an effort to get more exercise and be more regimented in general, I started waking up a little earlier than usual to do random workouts I find online. It's a good baby step for me since I'm super intimidated by gyms in NYC. I want to consult a trainer about making them more personalized/effective because right now there's no real rhyme or reason to which workouts I do, but it definitely makes me feel more energetic and accomplished, especially since I've been slacking on working out regularly in recent years."

—Samra S.

3. Stay accountable with a habit tracker.

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"I started bullet journaling this year — tracking the days I work out, if I drink enough water, if I take my vitamins, if I read before bed, and which days that I write in my journal. Even though it's only been a few weeks into the new year, I feel great and love the sense of accomplishment when I color in my trackers for the day. As a person who likes consistency, it's a positive sense of accountability, and I love seeing my progress."

—Emily C.

4. Set a bedtime and stick to it.

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"I'm giving myself a bedtime, like a child. I've been making up for lost time since I was 12, when my parent-enforced bedtime was officially lifted. I'd stay up until I realized I was completely exhausted, and even then, going to bed was a cop-out. I'm 30 now, and I still operate that way — like an angsty tween exploring the limits of their autonomy. No longer. I will now go to bed when it's the normal human hour to go to bed, regardless of how wired I am. I'll wake up fresh as a morning daisy. I'll smile at people on the street. All my problems will be gone forever."

—Kristin R.

5. Get serious about oral hygiene.

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"This year I am upping my dental regimen by adding mouthwash! I've been meaning to buy it since I turned about 24 and never have for some reason, but I finally did it and I feel like it's a small but important extra step that will keep my teeth healthy and happy."

—Jana P.

6. Prioritize mental health.

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"2018 is the year I go back to therapy. I haven't been in therapy for years — my entry to it was as a teenager, when my parents were concerned about mental health issues impacting my physical health and well-being. It was only recently, talking with close friends who regularly go to therapy themselves, that I really grasped how therapy does not have to be something one does only for the duration and brief aftermath of a huge crisis: It can be a continual journey and relationship that helps you thrive, learn tools to help yourself, and sort things out even when you don't feel like you're on the brink of madness. I'm really looking forward to going back on a regular schedule to address some smaller things I think are contributing to greater problems I tend to create for myself. I'm really hopeful about it."

—Mandy C.

7. Complete a family health history.

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"Last year, I was experiencing some abdominal pain when I learned in a phone call with my mother that both my grandmother and her mother had serious ovarian issues that resulted in hysterectomies. It was information my doctor needed and ultimately helped them diagnose me with [polycystic ovary syndrome]. The experience made me realize that while I have a general sense of my parents’ health histories, there’s a lot more I could learn. I’ve started asking them more detailed questions about their health — and the health of their parents — so I can put together a more comprehensive family health history for my entire care team."

—Kelley D.

8. Stay present.

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"I'm making a conscious effort not to be on my phone all the time. It's been surprisingly hard. When I watch TV, I plug the phone in on the other side of the couch where I can't reach it, or when I go out, I'm not allowed to take my phone out of my handbag unless I have a good reason. I don't want to be that annoying person who's always on their phone. I've definitely felt more focused and present since I started doing this."

—Kemi A.

9. Return to physical therapy.

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"I resolve to start doing physical therapy again. I had surgery on my hip because of a torn labrum. I was slowly and steadily getting back into exercising after the surgery, and physical therapy really helped. However, I did suffer another smaller injury late last year, and it's been a source of a lot of discomfort. This has really pushed me off of my gym-going. The next step this year is to get back into the routine of daily physical therapy exercises and then moving back into gym work. I actually love exercising. I just need to get through this discomfort to get there."

—Emily C.

Need help making your health resolutions a reality? Make an appointment with Allegheny Health Network.

From prevention and wellness to advanced gynecologic surgeries, Allegheny Health Network offers compassionate and comprehensive care for women at every life stage.