A new year for many people means reflecting on the past 12 months and choosing what paths our lives will take as we ring in 2024. A new year can be an opportunity for transformation and commitment to renew personal goals.
Whether you’re resolving to make significant changes or to enjoy your current state of life, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) offers resources to assist you and your loved ones in cultivating a healthy lifestyle year-round.
We have information and resources available for anyone wanting to improve the way they care for their bodies and minds in the new year. Whether you’re committing to quit smoking, eating better, addressing an addiction or talking to a professional about your mental and emotional health, ADHS is here to help you become the person you want to be in 2024.
Quitting tobacco
The ASHLine offers free smoking cessation tools including Quit Coaching, nicotine replacement therapy and peer support. The ASHLine makes it attainable to quit smoking and stay tobacco-free. The Unvape Generation shows teens there are alternatives to vaping and encourages them to find activities they love to do.
Eating healthy & enjoying physical activity
The cost of groceries has everyone looking for ways to cut costs, but we offer resources that prove you don’t have to cut nutrition to save money. The AZHealthzone offers tons of recipes featuring affordable ingredients so you can enjoy delicious, healthy meals. Additionally, the site shares fun activities that you can do alone or with kids to increase physical activity and get outdoors.
Caring for your mental health
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and is an essential component of our overall health. Being aware of your mental health and addressing your traumas and experiences can lead to more positive interactions and relationships in your life. Find information on social connectedness addressing loneliness and the 988 suicide and mental health crisis line.
While the new year can be a time of celebration, it can also be a difficult time for many people dealing with depression, loss or isolation. It’s important to remember there are people and resources here for you.
Small steps
There are many other small steps you can take on the journey toward a healthier and more positive life. ADHS offers resources to help you: take your vitamins, get up-to-date on your vaccines including your flu/COVID shots, be Sunwise and use sunscreen every day, have a healthy smile with access to dental health care, get screened for breast cancer, other cancers and STIs, and be prepared in case of an emergency.
If the new year inspires you to make changes – great! But the readiness to become healthier can happen at any time of the year. Every day gives us a chance to start anew.
Wishing you a healthy and happy 2024!
Sheila Sjolander is deputy director of Public Health Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services.
