As the New Year kicks off one of the biggest things on most people’s minds is how can I feel better and improve my life this year. And this doesn’t just include people that want to lose weight. It includes people of all sizes. Just because a person is slim doesn’t automatically mean that they feel healthy and happy. How much we weigh definitely plays a factor in our overall health but it is only one piece of the pie, so to speak. When it comes to improving your life there are many other areas to work on. Let’s talk about 12 easy ways to improve your life this year.

Change Your Diet

The first way to easily improve your life is by changing your diet.

Review what you eat on a daily basis and see if there are items that you can omit, or items that would be good for you to add.

There is no one diet fits all out there. Everyone should experiment to see what type of daily diet works best for them.

Shake Up Your Exercise Routine

Do you have an exercise routine that you love and look forward to doing, or do you workout just because you have been told that it is good for your health? Worse yet, perhaps you skip exercising all together.

Instead of doing something that you hate, or skipping it, find an exercise routine that you love. Try hip hop dancing, belly dancing or Zumba.

Go skating or swimming. Join a curling club or a bowling league. If you have fun with whatever you choose to do you won’t even notice the time and you will look forward to doing it more and more.

Be Proactive

You know the drill – brush and floss your teeth, and make time to visit your dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups.

The same goes with seeing your doctor. An annual check-up that includes checking your blood pressure, heart rate, ears and throat, along with personal parts, is a great way to catch any issues early on.

Routine blood work and other tests will show the doctor if there are issues before you even feel the symptoms.

Find Ways to Relax

We are all going full speed ahead and rarely do we relax until it is time to go to bed. And even then, we may be lying down, but our minds keep racing and worrying about what we didn’t get done today.

Then sure enough our mind starts making a list of what needs to be done tomorrow. Been there?

Finding a way to relax either mid day or 30 minutes before bed will help your mind calm down. As it calms down your body will be able to relieve any stress you may be carrying. The less stress you carry the healthier you will be.

Related: Tips That Will Help You Live a Better Life

Have More Fun

Make this the year that you promise to have more fun. If you enjoy traveling find ways to travel more often.

If you enjoy skiing or hiking, go.

Taking night school classes solely based on a topic that you are interested in can be fun. You will learn new things and you will meet new people that you instantly have something in common with.

Push The Envelope

Let go of your fears and push the envelope.

This is something I use to be good at, but the older I get the less I push the envelope and venture out of my comfort zone.

Don’t let that happen to you. Pick one or two things that you know you really want to do, but are kind of afraid of doing and go do them.

Learn to Let Go

Sometimes we get really hung up on certain events or certain people in our life and ultimately our life suffers. It is at these times that you need to learn to let go.

Giving yourself permission to let go and move on isn’t always easy, but once you do it you will feel so much better.

Drink Lots of Water

I know you hear this all the time, but are you actually doing it?

Drinking a lot of water is something that I have to constantly remind myself to do.

If I don’t I get headaches and feel drowsy. I try to drink at least 60 ounces a day, but I should probably be drinking more.

Related: 7 Foods That Will Keep You Hydrated All Day

Sleep is the Best Medicine

Sleep honestly is the best medicine and napping more will definitely improve your life.

While you are asleep your body works on restoring your cells, balancing your metabolism, repairing any injuries, and healing itself naturally. It also gives your muscles a chance to relax.

Do Something Just For You

A great way to relax and improve your life is by getting involved in a new hobby or a sport.

This is different than pushing the envelope and overcoming your fears.

This is simply doing something that you have always wanted to do, and you know you would love it, but you just never seem to find the time to do it. Maybe it is woodworking, or sewing or painting. Maybe you have always wanted to write a book.

Or perhaps you have always wanted to learn how to sing or play the piano.

Get started by picking just one thing and go do it.

Get a Professional Massage

Get a massage.

You may think that all you need to do to take care of your health is to eat right and exercise, but many studies have proven that people that go for regular professional massages feel much better than those that do not.

Surround Yourself with Happy People

Eliminate the arrogant or toxic people in your life and surround yourself with fun, happy people.

Doing this one thing will improve your life is so many ways, and you will look back in a year from now and wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.