New Year's Resolutions are a great way to plan for a healthy year, but its common for people to slack off a little bit as January draws to an end.  Below are five common resolutions, and a few reminders on why its important to stick to your goals for 2010. Good luck!

1. Quit

Many of our patients are suffering from an addiction to one or more substances  that are harmful. The biggest offenders are of course tobacco,  alcohol, caffeine, and sugar, so let's focus on those. There are  many,
many reasons why these substances are not healthful, but a  few of them include:    

Caffeine  is a stimulant and puts the body on constant alert. This  chronic state of "fight or flight" or sympathetic dominance causes anxiety and irritability, sleep disturbances and mood  swings. Aside from the fact that it
will take more and more caffeine to get the same effect over time, the constant  assault to the adrenal glands will eventually result in  complete exhaustion or inability to produce adequate amounts  of adrenal hormones.  

Alcohol is a central nervous depressant and presents  a significant burden on the body's detoxification pathways  among other offenses.  

Nicotine has been shown to increase cortisol levels  and the thousands of other chemicals in cigarettes are  certainly a noteworthy strain on the body in many  ways.  

Sugar can suppress your immune system, lead to problems with glucose and insulin metabolism, affect  cortisol secretion, and contribute to weight  gain.  Imbalanced hormones can  greatly contribute to cravings and "need" for
exogenous  substances. The anxiety and insomnia that accompany falling  estrogen and progesterone levels are often medicated by alcohol,  nicotine, caffeine, sugar, or prescription medications. While the  cessation of any of these
substances requires a large helping of  self-control and determination, treating your hormone  imbalances can give you a more stable platform from which to make  clearer choices .

2.  Simplify
While this is easier said than done, the new  year is a great opportunity to take a look at the activities and  people in your life that cause you undue stress.  Make a list of the things that you spend the most  amount of energy on, and then eliminate the ones that provide the  least benefit. If this is a friend or co-worker who is a constant  drain,
set more clear boundaries. If you are  overextended with obligations,prioritize and cut  out a few activities.
This can greatly reduce overall stress  levels. For many people, the primary stressor is their job, and  while most people certainly can't just quit a job that makes them  miserable (especially in this economy), they may be able to
make  some long term plans to change careers or enhance their education.  Just having the plan, or the knowledge that you aren't stuck in yourcurrent situation for the long term is a significant stress  reduction for most
people.

3.  Develop and nurture support networks
Maintain meaningful and fulfilling relationships with  family and friends. These relationships nourish our body, mind and
soul. Whether dealing with illness, grief, or just the challenges  of every day life, having people to connect and share with allows  us to release powerful emotions and feel a greater sense of well  being.  

4.  Hydrate
The human body is made up of approximately 60%  water, yet most of our patients aren't consuming nearly as much  as they should be. A good rule of thumb is to drink approximately half your body weight in ounces. Of
course there  are exceptions to this, so use your judgment, and for  many people it will be easier to set lower goals and slowly work  up to this level. The quality of water is important as well.  Filtered water is crucial,
as there can be many chemicals and  poisons in our water supply. Drinking from glass or stainless  steel is preferred to avoid the phthalates and bisphenol that can  leak into water from plastic bottles.

5. Get  proper medical attention
  Preventative and  proactive visits to your chiropractor, acupuncturist, primary  care physician and dentist can literally add years to their lives.  Spending a few extra dollars for some preventative exams, labs,  procedures or supplements is a good investment.