It’s January, full of New Year’s resolutions and hopeful promises! This is when we transition from an overabundance of holiday treats to healthy snacks and new exercise habits. However, research indicates that 79% of resolutions involve improving health and wellness, yet only 9% of adults stick to their resolutions. Instead of making hard-to-keep resolutions, what if we focused on creating healthy environments for ourselves, our organizations, and our communities, ensuring that healthy habits become part of our daily routines? 

Looking at the Blue Zones Project, launched in communities throughout Riverside County in 2024, there are nine common traits and behaviors shared by long-lived populations called the Power 9®. 

These principles emphasize the importance of enhancing physical health, such as engaging in natural movement and incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables into our diets. They also highlight the value of social connections, daily movement, and cultivating a sense of purpose. 

Blue Zones also stress the significance of downshifting and taking time to rest, as research suggests that these practices are essential for improving both mental and physical health. 

A study published in April 2024 found that working late at night and for long periods in your 20s can lead to depression and other illnesses by age 50, underscoring how stress can impact our well-being. Remember, you can’t take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself. 

In a recent NPR Health newsletter, the nonprofit news organization also highlighted new research from 2024 on how to keep our minds sharp and improve mental health and wellness, including: 

• Writing by hand beats typing for learning and memory 

• Scientists are learning how the brain removes waste. This could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer’s, headaches, depression and more 

• About 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by improving daily habits 

Another valuable resource for managing physical health and taking care of cardiovascular health is the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8, which outlines eight key steps to living a healthy life: quitting tobacco, managing blood pressure and blood sugar, controlling cholesterol, and ensuring better quality and longer sleep. 

While we can’t control every aspect of our environment, completely revamping our daily habits can seem unattainable. However, with the resources mentioned above, we can take small steps each day in our personal lives, organizations, and communities to improve our overall health and wellness, leading to healthier and more joyful lives. 

Cheers to a healthy and vibrant 2025!