To make sure you stick to your New Year’s resolutions, take a different approach by coming up with a few small goals that can make a big difference. For example, catching up on all recommended doctor appointments and preventive screenings doesn’t require a major lifestyle change, but doing so will ensure you thrive in 2019. Here are a few other steps you can take in the upcoming year to reap major benefits. 

3 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

1. Visit Your Primary Care Provider

Your health insurance should cover an annual exam with your primary care physician. It’s easy to put off this appointment, especially if you feel fine, but you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain by going. Annual physicals allow doctors to check in with patients, evaluate any new risk factors, and address minor issues before they develop into more serious concerns. 

2. Start a Nighttime Routine 

If you don’t already have a nighttime routine, now is the time to start one. Going to bed at the same time every night, including on weekends, and waking up at the same time every morning has all kinds of benefits. For example, dozens of studies have indicated that having a regular sleep pattern reduces the risk of several health conditions, including hypertension, obesity, and heart disease. 

3. Take the Stairs  

It can be challenging to find the time to work out every day, but you don’t have to rearrange your entire schedule to be more active in general. Simple choices, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and parking in the back of the lot instead of the front, can help you get in your 10,000 steps per day or more. 

If you’re looking for friendly doctors who will treat the whole family next year, turn to Kona-Kohala Health Care Services in Kailua-Kona, HI. This health clinic is led by Dr. Donald Nikaitani, who graduated at the top of his National Internal Medicine board exams, and Dr. Richard Pekala, who has been treating families on the Big Island for years. Together, they offer comprehensive health care, including preventive screenings, blood work, vaccinations, chronic disease management, and diagnostic imaging. To learn about their approach to treating patients, check out their website. To make an appointment with a compassionate doctor on their team, call (808) 329-1346.