Dan's Papers - January 16, 2009 - A Wellness Plan for the New Year

For many of us, or probably most of us, this has been a tumultuous year for a variety of reasons. Most areas of your life could probably use a tune-up by now, including your financial state, career situation, relationships, organization, personal state of affairs, etc.

We are also coming down from a forever-eating-and-drinking holiday season full of stress and chaos, and we innately feel the need for cleansing and a fresh start.

Of all the aspects of your life, wellness reigns supreme. Our health, above all things, should take a priority. Your health will affect the other areas of your life if you're ill, and if you don't take care of yourself, you may not even be here to worry about those other things.

Let's face it: New Year's resolutions have a ghastly reputation; they are thought of as hackneyed, insincere and passé. So we won't discuss resolutions like quitting smoking and losing weight, two of the top 10 resolutions that have been heard for dozens of years from millions of people.

But wellness is serious business, and we should all take this opportunity to get it right, feel refreshed and rejuvenated, and begin a journey to excellent health. Here are some important pieces to an overall wellness plan you should be creating for yourself this year.

Get a physical. If you've been putting it off, do yourself a favor and go to the doctor. I know most of you are waiting for the ache, pain or even disaster to happen, but by then it may be too late for effective treatment. Get your blood checked, your blood pressure, your vitals and overall review of your health status. You just may be enlightened to the point where it will save your life.

Go to the dentist. Most people are not aware that tooth and gum health is directly related to heart health. Oral bacteria can affect the heart when it enters the bloodstream. People with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease - so go get those choppers in for a good cleaning and a check up.

Get the tests. Yes I'm talkingcolonoscopy, pap smear, mammogram, dermatologist exam, prostate exam and an eye exam. Some of these visits may seem unpleasant at the least, but they very well could save your life.

Soak up the sun. During the gloom and doom of winter not only does your mental state suffer, but your supply of Vitamin D does as well. Get a dose of sunshine whenever possible - doctors are saying about 15 minutes a day. I recently watched an Oprah episode where they tested the entire staff for their Vitamin D levels, the results were astonishing: over 80 percent were Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D is now believed to play an essential role in bone and muscle health, inflammation, certain cancers, depression, multiple sclerosis and more.

Educate yourself this year. Treat yourself to a subscription to a health magazine like Prevention, Natural Health, or Fitness. Some good books to keep on the shelf include any of Dr. Weil's works (Healthy Aging is a favorite of mine), Eckhart Tolle's books The Power of Now or A New Earth for some real spiritual vitamins, and a brand new book that just hit the shelves on December 30 called The Spectrum, by Dr. Dean Ornish, a world renowned health expert. This book is a comprehensive, in-depth look at all aspects of health in our lives.

Eat and exercise for health, not slimness. Remove the focus of losing weight this year. Wellness should be your guide, and a trim waistline will follow - without your even realizing it. Learn what foods you need for a healthy heart, healthy cells, healthy skin, bones, organs, etc. Find exercises and "movement strategies" that will benefit you best, fit into your lifestyle, and most of all maybe even bring you some joy.

Practice safe living. This year vow to change the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, have a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen, change the filters in your heating vents, wear your seatbelt, buy "green" cleaning products, eat organic, learn CPR, restock the first aid kit, keep a bottle of aspirin handy, and review the medicine chest for expired medication.

Regain or enhance your mental and spiritual health. For one, there is a strong connection between mental and physical health. Secondly, a positive outlook and managed stress will greatly improve your quality of life. That combined with serenity, joy and emotional and intellectual fulfillment can be the answer to happiness. Some tips: Practice simplicity - cale down on possessions, unnecessary responsibilities and activities, emotional baggage, and household clutter. Live mindfully and for the moment. Schedule downtime and vacations. Sharpen the mental pencil and learn a new language this year, take up the piano, tackle some new technology or enroll in a class at the local college. Make a conscious effort this year to acquire peace and happiness in every area of your life.