Lifestyle & Wellness

It’s a new year and a new you! The time has rolled around again to write down your New Year’s resolutions and make good on your goals. Many people use this time to kickstart changes to improve their health. Unfortunately, research shows that almost 80% of New Year’s resolutions, no matter how well intentioned, come to an end by the second week of February. Often this is because the goals we set are too broad or unrealistic. For example, the goals to exercise more or eat healthier, while great ideas, do not give us a strong foundation to achieve those goals. Without specific steps and smaller milestones, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or discouraged when progress is slower than expected. When changes don’t happen right away, it’s easy to lose motivation, but slow and steady wins the race. 

Although it may be hard to believe, the holiday season is here! During this time of the year, many people travel and get together with family and friends. Alcohol is a common beverage offered during these gatherings and there can be a feeling that this is something that is normally consumed when getting together with others. When watching football on television the commercials make alcoholic beverages seem to always make good times better without consequences. Unfortunately, this is not true as health and social problems from alcohol consumption resulted in an economic burden of over $249 billion in the United States in 2010. Thus, while alcohol can be safely consumed by many adults, caution should be taken when drinking this beverage.