1. Eat Well. Avoid gaining those extra pounds by tracking what you eat. One research study suggests, keeping a food diary can double your weight loss and help you maintain your weight.  For more healthy eating tips, visit Eat Well.
2. Spend less. Give your credit card a break. Set limits on your spending. Make a budget and stick to it; you’ll feel less stressed when you don’t have large bills looming in January. Researchers have found a significant link between household debt and increased symptoms of depression.
3. Drink Safe. Awe! The holiday spirits. Consider the amount of alcohol you consume this season and even though the cups of cheer are flowing, follow the National Institutes of Health (NIH) low-risk drinking recommendations. Men should not consume more that four drinks on any day and for women it is no more than three drinks on any day. “Low-risk is not “no risk”. If you’re planning on driving, currently taking medications, or pregnant, even a little is too much.
4. Be active. Winter days are shorter and colder so you may feel like curling up in warm blanket and hibernating until spring. Don’t do it. Everyone needs regular physical activity for stronger muscles and increased energy. Intermountain LiVe Well provides lots of great ideas to help you build better habits and improve your fitness during the winter months.
5. Wash your hands. There’s lots of things to share with family and friends during the season, but a cold or flu shouldn’t be one of them. Good handwashing habits are a good way to keep Uncle Don’s cold from becoming your own. Proper handwashing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of respiratory infections like colds, coughs, and flu. To find out what germs are currently active in Utah, visit GermWatch or download our Health Hub app for more mobile tools to help you manage your health.

 

To learn more about Intermountain research and how we are helping people live the healthiest lives possible, visit intermountainresearch.org.