It’s the time of year when people make New Year’s resolutions. Then there’s the debate over whether those resolutions will stick. 

There are plenty of tips for reaching those resolutions. But no matter what time of year it is, you can make changes to improve your health and well-being. You can make some small changes to have a big impact on your health all year. 

1. Get more sleep 

We get it. Getting more sleep is easier said than done. There are many factors that can affect your sleep — stress, schedule and children. Whatever you do this year, prioritize your sleep. 

Research shows that sleep affects all other aspects of your health — brain, heart, physical and mental health, to name a few. If you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t have the energy to be active or make healthy food choices. 

People ages 18 to 64 should get seven to nine hours of sleep, while those over 64 should get eight hours of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation*. Note that children need more sleep. 

Make getting more sleep your priority for the year. Set a bedtime for yourself and stick to it. Create a nighttime routine for winding down for sleep. 

2. Work on managing stress

Everyone has stress in their lives. This can be stress over good things — waiting in line at a new restaurant. Or stress over life’s big worries — finances, children and relationships. But take some steps this year to manage your stress. 

Try deep breathing, which can take only a few minutes. Practice meditation, which requires setting your intentions and being mindful. Go for a walk — it doesn’t have to be a long walk. Starting small can be a great way to build a daily walking habit. 

Every step you can take to slow down and let go of your stress will be good for your overall health and well-being. 

The American Heart Association’s website is a good resource for stress management tips*. Stress has an impact on your physical and mental health and may cause problems such as high blood pressure, digestive issues, depression and anxiety. 

Start here: Take a deep breath. Hold it in. And then slowly let it go. 

3. Practice mindfulness 

Mindfulness can be more than a daily meditation practice. Mindfulness is the practice of focusing your mind on the present moment. 

Mindfulness has been used to treat anxiety and depression. It recently has been used as complementary therapy for cancer, stroke and pain*. 

You can practice mindfulness to help make healthier choices for food or activity, too. Take time to be aware, be present and slow down. 

Stop rushing off to the next thing. 

*These are independent organizations that offer health information that you may find helpful.