If you want to take steps toward a healthier 2026, consider bite-sized changes to exercise and eating habits that will make long-term differences.
“I see the same pattern every January: strong motivation, ambitious goals, and then frustration when life gets busy,” says Christopher Sutton, MS, Rush Copley Healthplex Fitness Center general manager. “Successful resolutions aren’t built on extreme changes. They’re built on simple, sustainable habits that support your overall health and wellness.”
If physical fitness is atop your goals for the year, Sutton offers these tips:
- Choose consistency over intensity. Showing up to the gym two or three times a week for a moderate workout will set the tone for a refreshing routine that will stick.
- Try something new this year: Add 10 minutes of movement to your day or explore a new class or exercise routine.
- Accountability and support make a big difference — lean into group classes, workout partners or fitness professionals for encouragement and motivation.
- Don’t forget nutrition. Think about food as fuel for your life rather than as something to restrict.
- Develop a consistent sleep/rest habit.
For a nutritious start to 2026, clinical dietitian Molly DePrenger, MS, RD, offers these recommendations:
- Smaller goals make for long-term gains. That may mean reworking one meal a day or slowly changing things over time.
- If the latest diet trend sounds too extreme to maintain or too good to be true — it is.
- For the best nutrition, eat protein with each meal, include lots of vegetables and fruits, then customize to your tastes. Popular options such as the Mediterranean, MIND and DASH diets provide a solid foundation with room to experiment.
- For a guaranteed boost in how you feel, cut out sugary drinks.
Be ready for a healthy surprise: While good habits won’t change your weight or lab results immediately, a few changes will make a significant difference in how you feel each day.
