16 Healthy Goals to Strive For

Ready to make 2023 your healthiest year yet? The start of a new year is the perfect time to reassess your habits and set new health goals.

According to one study, 91% of individuals don't keep their New Year's resolutions.¹ So how can you be a part of the 9% who do? Good goals are small and specific but also challenging. Goals are also more apt to be met when they're connected to things we're passionate about — not just things you think you should do.¹

Having a support system is also key to staying on track when your motivation begins to wane.¹ And if you do fall off the wagon with your new year goal? Don't throw in the towel! If you see every day as a fresh start rather than any setback as a defeat, you're more likely to keep making progress toward your finish line.

So what are your health goals for 2023? Do you want to gain more strength or maybe drop a few pounds? Build better habits for handling stress or finally break up with the tanning bed? Maybe it's about boosting your confidence by finally getting rid of those acne scars or opting for straighter teeth. Wherever you're at and wherever you want to be, here are some examples of health goals to help you get on track for a healthier and happier 2023.

1. Set Screen Time Limits

Too much screen time can be bad for our sleep² and our mental health.³ Instead of relying on willpower alone to put down your phone, be proactive and set up screen time limits right on your device to help you cut back. Try setting your downtime to start at 8 p.m. or limiting your social media apps to an hour a day.

2. Don't See Self-Care Spending as a Luxury

You know that relaxed feeling you get after a massage? Or the calm that comes after a facial? Instead of seeing these as luxuries, remember the holistic benefits of self-care spa treatments and work to budget them into your monthly finances.

3. Take Steps to Drop the Pounds – for Good

If diet and exercise aren't getting the job done, consider taking the next step to bariatric surgery to get rid of excess weight and skin. You'll feel better, you'll look better and you'll be healthier.

4. Limit UV Exposure

Instead of the “glow" you might feel you get from a tanning bed — which can lead to sunspots, wrinkles and melanoma⁴ — get your glow from a brisk walk with a friend or a skin-refreshing facial.

5. Improve Your Workstation

Eight hours at a desk can be hard on the mind and the body. If your desk job has led to chronic pain, make ergonomic changes this year to support your body. A standing desk, a new chair or monthly massages may make the difference.

6. Start Your Day With a Workout

It can be hard to get motivated to workout after a full day at work. What's easier? Hitting the treadmill, the trail or the mat as soon as you wake up. Starting your day with a workout will not only help you wake up, but you can also cross one healthy habit to-do off your list before your workday begins.

7. Get Social

While the pandemic limited in-person social interaction for a while, now it's time to schedule that weekend away or dinner with friends. In-person social interaction plays a key role in maintaining our mental health.⁵ Make it a goal for 2023 to schedule monthly in-person outings with friends.

8. Take Care of Your Teeth

Did you know that the health of your teeth can be a telling sign of your overall health?⁶ This year, take the time to improve your dental health. Brush twice a day. Make flossing easy by putting floss in your car, on your desk or by the couch. And schedule that dental check-up to deal with TMJ, grinding, gum disease or cavities.

9. Solve Your Sleep Issues

Sleep is vital for our overall health.⁷ If a solid night of shut-eye seems elusive, take steps to find out what's keeping you from a good night's sleep. A sleep study can help to diagnose issues such as insomnia, REM sleep disorders or sleep apnea.

10. Schedule an Annual Health Checkup

Whatever your age, getting the recommended health screenings for men or women can be a key step in the prevention or early detection for a range of health concerns including high blood pressure or cholesterol, cancer or hearing loss.

11. Take Your Dog for More Walks

Taking your furry friend for a daily walk has boundless benefits both for you and Rover. You're more likely to walk longer with a pooch pal by your side, and spending time with four-legged friends increases the levels of human cortisol (the hormone connected to stress).⁸ Plus, a daily walk helps to ensure your pet stays healthy and active too.

12. Squint Less

If you've been having a harder time seeing, make this the year to have your vision checked with an eye exam. Getting LASIK to correct vision problems or glaucoma surgery to improve your sight can benefit your social life, work productivity and even your looks. (Squinting can cause wrinkles, you know!)⁹

13. See Your Dermatologist

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the time they turn 70.¹⁰ Luckily, the 5-year survival rate is 99% for those who take advantage of early detection.¹⁰ Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to review and track changes in moles and freckles. They can also suggest treatments and procedures to help improve your skin such as microdermabrasion, scar removal or acne treatments.

14. Manage Your Finances

According to the most recent American Psychological Association “Stress in America" study, 72% of Americans report feeling anxiety and stress over money.¹¹ Stress and anxiety aren't good for your health.¹² Help your health — and your wallet — by getting control of your finances with a budget or debt reduction plan. Try a budgeting app like Mint or YNAB (You Need A Budget) — or grab a piece of paper and just start tracking your money in and money out each month.

15. Schedule Blood Work

Looking for a simple health goal to accomplish? Schedule a blood test for 2023. Getting lab work done on your blood is one of the easiest ways to track the health of your organs and monitor your overall well-being.¹³ Simple blood tests can help reveal nutrient deficiency, markers of diabetes or coronary heart disease and check to ensure organs like your liver, kidneys and thyroid are functioning properly.¹³

16. Build More Muscle

Make 2023 the year of more muscle mass. The benefits are not just in how you look. Building muscle can help you burn more calories, lower your risk of injuries and falls, help you manage your blood sugar, improve your heart health and boost your brain, as well.¹⁴

Take Charge of Your Health and Wellness

If you are looking for an option to help manage your health and wellness finances, consider the CareCredit credit card. The CareCredit card can help you pay for the care you want and need and make payments easy to manage.* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a provider or retailer near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos.

Author Bio

Kate Bayless is an experienced health and wellness freelance writer with 15 years of experience. Her work has appeared in Parents, Women's Health, Beachbody and OpenFit.