your end-of-the-year health checklist: what you should be doing to stay on top of your health in 2025
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getting a head start on your health for 2025 will ensure that you stay healthy for years to come.
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a new year is right around the corner, and the time leading up to that fresh 365-day calendar is incredibly busy—so busy that it’s easy to put less than pressing matters on the back burner. while health is always a priority, many people are likely to think less about their general health and wellness during the holiday season.
that said, taking care of yourself when it seems next to impossible with all the other tasks on your plate is essential to longevity, overall well-being, and catching any potential problems as quickly as possible.
so, now that this year is coming to a close, here are a few things you should add to your health checklist list for early in the new year that’ll keep you healthy well into 2025.
brush up on health screenings and check-ups
knowing when and how often to get screened for certain diseases is imperative to achieving the best possible outcome if they do arise. these could include cancer screenings, regular pap tests, bone health assessments, and heart health check-ups. along with screenings, you should also book regular eye vision tests, dental check-ups, annual health examinations with routine lab testing, and any vaccinations you may need.
the first thing you should do in your end-of-year health checklist is figure out which ones you qualify for and make a list. you can go through them one by one when booking to ensure they fit with your schedule in the new year, but being ready with what you need is the best way to tackle it once january starts.
once you’ve had all the screenings done, you’ll be in a great position to assess your overall health and determine what steps you can take to improve or maintain it.
review all medications and supplements you take
if you take health supplements or medications daily, the end of the year is a great time to assess whether you need to change the dose, remove the supplement from your regimen, or add something else into the mix. this step requires you to speak to your physician, which you can do at your annual exam.
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as people get older, the needs of their bodies change, and that can affect supplement and medication use. stay on top of that so you’re not getting too much or too little of any given medication or supplement.
take stock of your lifestyle habits
regardless of where you’re at regarding lifestyle habits, you may want to take some time to congratulate yourself for what you’re doing well and make a plan for what you could improve. for example, if you put your time and effort into eating a healthy diet but rarely get any movement in due to a busy schedule or the demands of work and life, it may be time to figure out how to rearrange some things to get more exercise.
you want to try to get four types of exercise:
- strength training, such as weightlifting
- cardio, such as walking, swimming, running, or using an elliptical machine
- flexibility, such as daily stretches, yoga, or pilates
- balance, which can also be improved through yoga or pilates exercises or core strength exercises
all it takes is an additional 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily to exceed the recommended 150 minutes per week.
a good schedule isn’t one size fits all—it’s whatever works for you, so if you can find the time to increase your physical activity, your overall health will improve.
sleep is another lifestyle habit that should be a priority on your end-of-year health checklist. ask yourself if you get enough sleep, and if not, figure out a better way to improve your sleep habits. this could mean going to bed earlier, asking for testing to determine if a sleep disorder is causing the issue, or developing a bedtime routine that fosters better quality sleep.
assessing your lifestyle habits also means considering the things that you do that may not be so good for your health, such as drinking alcohol in excess. consider cutting back on harmful habits without completely giving them up. that way, you’ll participate in harmful activities less without putting too much strain on yourself to be perfect.
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assess your mental health
mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to overall well-being, so it’s crucial to take stock of the amount of stress you’re under throughout the year, what activities or people set off that stress, and whether or not you may be experiencing any signs or symptoms of a mental health disorder.
once you have given it some real thought, you can determine if you need to practice stress management activities, such as meditation, journaling, or reading, or if you require the assistance of a therapist to cope with any symptoms that arise.
you can also consider your personal relationships with others and the community around you to determine how they affect your mental health. then, you can establish new goals, routines, and priorities for the year ahead that foster good mental health instead of burnout, stress, or anxiousness.
by assessing your mental health, you can take actionable steps now to improve your situation, preventing it from worsening over time.
check in on insurance and benefits
the insurance and benefits you may need will change as you get older, so if you do have something already in place, it’s a good idea to go over what you have, whether it’s still relevant, and if there’s anything else you need to add to it to ensure that you’re protected in the event of accidents or illness.
if you don’t yet have any benefits or insurance in place, it could be a good idea to start shopping around based on your needs and potential needs in the years to come so that you’re prepared. while provincial health plans cover some healthcare costs, many others will be paid out of pocket if you develop a health condition or other ailment.
to ensure that you’re prepared to handle anything life throws at you financially, preparing with the proper insurance or benefits plans can help.
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prioritize yourself
it’s easy for people to throw self-care out the way because of the demands of today’s modern world, but if you want to maintain overall good health, it’s vital to prioritize yourself as best you can. while all of those tips mentioned above will do that, it’s also about ensuring that you make time for yourself to do things you enjoy and take time off to relax from work or home life pressures.
a few ways you can do this include:
- choosing a new hobby to do for one hour per week that will give you time to express yourself in a way that’s only for you
- book a tentative vacation or small break from life at various intervals throughout the year
- establish routines that make time for everything you need to get done while carving a little time out for you to do the things that make you happy, whether that be spending time alone or seeing friends more often
creating an end-of-year checklist will ensure you’re ready to tackle the new year and become the healthiest version of yourself, and while it takes time, you will thank yourself for it in the long run.
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