To quote the philosopher Aristotle: change in all things is sweet. With a new year around the corner, now is a good time to look back on 2025, take stock of what worked well for you and what could stand to be improved, and visualize how you want your life to look a year from now when you’re looking back at 2026. This is the time to make resolutions, to commit to setting goals that will yield a rich crop of that sweet, sweet change. For our last Wellness Wednesday of 2025, we’re looking back at the stories we published this year to offer some ideas for New Year’s resolutions.
Take Up a Sport
Are you looking to get healthy? Interested in meeting new people and forming lasting social connections? Getting into a sport is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Whether it’s taking up golf, joining a softball league, or playing a racket sport like tennis or pickleball, sports gives you a regular physical activity that you can do with other people. It’s not just the socialization aspect that’s beneficial: playing with or against other people also adds a motivating factor. It can be easy to brush stuff aside when it’s just you; it becomes harder to flake when other people are depending on you to show up to play.
Go for a Run
If you want an exercise option that’s more of a solo effort, get yourself a supportive pair of running shoes and hit the road. Running is an effective way to burn calories, boost your heart health, and even improve your bone density over time. Need a goal to train toward? Rio Salado’s annual Dash With Rio fun run is happening on April 18. Hit the track for one-mile, 5K or 10K. Start running in the New Year and get ready to join your Rio peers as we run to benefit a good cause.
Eat More Bananas
Not all resolutions have to be physically demanding or time-intensive! A simple way to boost your health is to eat more bananas. Bananas are a rich source of potassium, an essential mineral and electrolyte that impacts digestion, blood pressure, heart rhythm, and nerve impulses. Bananas are also vitamin rich with other nutrients, full of soluble fiber that can help moderate blood sugar levels, and are high in antioxidants.
Clean Your Air
Another easy lifestyle change that can pay dividends is to make a commitment to cleaner air in your home. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, the most direct being to regularly change your air filters. Improving the ventilation and filtration in your home will circulate out irritants and allergens in the air while also mitigating against the growth of mold and mildew in your home. You can also keep things fresh by regularly opening your windows and doors to "air out" the home. If you have pets, consider installing window screens and screen doors so you can leave things open without worrying about your furry friends wandering off. Well-placed fans can also play a major role in cleaning your air.
Load Up On Omega-3s
Do you eat a lot of fish, legumes, or avocados? If you don't, you may be not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. This eye-and-brain fortifying compound can be found in fish like salmon and mackerel, chia seeds, walnuts, edamame, seaweed, avocado, and shrimp. Studies have found that omega-3 can also help ease depression, reduce the risk of macular degeneration, and reduce inflammation.
Stay Loose at Work
How often do you stretch when you’re working? It’s probably not nearly enough. A good way to keep your body healthy is to keep it loose and limber. Take several stretch breaks throughout the day. If you do a lot of repetitive activities like typing, give yourself “micro-breaks” to give your muscles a moment to rest. The wear and tear of those repetitive motions can add up over time! Also be sure to pay attention to your posture. A properly aligned spine can lead to less neck and back pain, improved circulation, more energy, and a stronger core.
Just Breathe
Life can pile on stress pretty quickly. That’s why it’s a good idea to incorporate breathwork and meditation into your daily routine. It’s simple to do and isn’t time-consuming. Take three to five minutes (or more) a day and sit, try not to think about anything, focus on just sitting in your body in that moment, and breathe. Count your breaths if it helps you not think about anything. Focus on the air circulating in and out of your body and feel how it energizes you. Meditation has been proven to be a reliable stress reliever that can also improve your ability to concentrate AND enhance your quality of sleep.
Article by Austin Brietta
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