Want to start 2026 with habits that support your health and well-being?
Most of us approach the new year with a list of resolutions. Often, many involve getting healthier, whether that means losing weight, exercising more, or lowering our risk for common but concerning health conditions, like heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
Dr. Gurprit Sekhon and the Nu Wave Medical Center team are on your side, ready to help you formulate your health goals for the new year, and they’re invested in seeing you meet them!
“You are what you eat” isn’t just an adage, it’s true! The food you choose to fuel yourself with impacts your overall health greatly — and either increases or reduces your risk for a host of serious health conditions, including:
What does healthy eating look like when put into practice? Opting for plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, fatty fish like salmon, nuts and seeds, legumes like peas and beans, and healthy fats such as olive oil and avocados.
What it doesn’t look like: Stopping by the fast food drive-through regularly, relying on frozen dinners, and choosing “convenience” foods, which are often packed with calories, fat, and artificial ingredients — none of which support your health.
Nu Wave also offers a medically supervised weight loss program where Dr. Sekhon creates a customized plan for you and provides consistent support.
We should get at least 150 minutes of physical exercise per week, or about 30 minutes per day, if you exercise five days of the week. This is easily attainable if you engage in activities you enjoy, whether that’s swimming, brisk walking, tennis, or a dance class.
Remember, motion is lotion! Exercise helps build muscle, supports joint health, keeps your weight in check, and so much more!
Stress is unavoidable and comes with the territory of working, having a family, and simply living your life — but if it overtakes you, stress harms your heart, raises your blood pressure, messes with your sleep, and affects your ability to focus.
It can be tempting to do unhealthy things when we’re stressed, like overeating, indulging in too much alcohol, escaping into endless video games, or smoking.
Work to eschew these harmful habits and instead eat well, spend time with loved ones, engage in a mindfulness practice like meditation, exercise, limit screen time, and get plenty of high-quality rest.
Too much of anything isn’t good, and this is especially true when it comes to our screen use.
When you get a break in your day, try going outside for a breath of fresh air rather than doom scrolling, work a puzzle at night instead of sinking into the couch for a Netflix binge session, and banish tech from your bedroom to unwind at day’s end and get a good night’s sleep.
Rather than announcing you’ll lose 50 pounds in a few months, take it slowly and easily. Gradual weight loss is a more successful approach.
The same goes for exercise. Instead of committing to running a marathon, aim for a 5K instead — it’s doable, and something to be just as proud of as a longer, more grueling trek.
In other words, work up to an achievable goal, then set another one, and so on.
We know it’s challenging not to focus on your worries and concerns, but emphasizing what’s great in your life can be a game-changer.
An attitude of gratitude — for your family and friends, work, home, and other blessings — is associated with not just better health and greater satisfaction, but also a longer life.
Don’t delay scheduling your annual physical with us, where Dr. Sekhon checks your blood pressure, cholesterol, and other important health markers.
Also, keep on top of the regular screenings all adults should be having. These include mammograms, colonoscopies, bone density tests, and prostate cancer screenings. Don’t overlook keeping up with your vaccinations, either.
You should also talk to Dr. Sekhon about your mental health and where you are emotionally. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. If counseling can help, she can assist you with finding the right mental health practitioner.
By thinking ahead and checking these items off your health to-do list, you’ll be in good shape for the coming year.
We’re invested in helping you become the healthiest you possible, so rely on us for education, wisdom, and guidance.
Contact our Panama City Beach office at 850-493-6948 to schedule an appointment, or reach out to us through our website.
