Checking In on Your 2024 Healthcare Goals

Updated on January 17, 2024. Medically reviewed by Morgan Spicer, Medical Communications Manager. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.

Table of contents

• Set Resolutions on Your Terms
• A Review of the Checklist
• What’s on Your Health and Wellness Plan?
• Have You Updated Your Health Records?
• What Are Your Health Benefits Like?
• Keeping up With Your Vitamins & Supplements
• Have You Seen a Healthcare Provider This Year?
• When Was Your Last Vacation?
• Related Content

At the beginning of the year we compiled a 2024 healthcare checklist of 6 goals to help you develop a healthier lifestyle. Now that we’re approaching the middle of the year, it’s time to take a look at any progress you’ve made, goals you’ve completed, and discuss what you can do to stay on (or get back on) track.

Set Resolutions on Your Terms

It’s easy to get caught up in a busy schedule and forget to make time for the things that matter- like our health and wellness. If you feel like you haven’t made enough progress this year, try to celebrate the small wins, and know that there is still plenty of time to develop healthier habits.

Keep in mind that while the “new year, new me” trend is a popular and sometimes effective way to reach your goals, it’s never too late to set new health and wellness resolutions. Whether you decide to get started three weeks into the new year, three months into the new year, or on a random Tuesday in December, your goals and resolutions are still important and attainable. Sometimes taking the first step is the hardest part. Wherever you are on your health and wellness journey, Everlywell is here to support you.

A Review of the Checklist

The 2024 checklist included:

1. Make a health and wellness plan for the year
2. Start or update your health records
3. Understand your benefits
4. Level up your vitamins & supplements
5. Schedule all of your annual check-ups
6. Make a tentative vacation schedule

So, what’s your progress looking like? If you’ve taken any steps to complete this checklist you should give yourself a pat on the back. If you’ve fallen behind, you’re not alone: a lot of people tend to abandon their New Year's resolutions pretty quickly. Don’t fret, there are still many opportunities to set new goals and catch up on lost progress!

What’s on Your Health and Wellness Plan?

Did you get around to making a plan or setting any goals for yourself this year? If so, what progress have you made so far? Even if you think you haven’t made any huge changes, there are definitely some small wins you should be proud of. Have you tried any new activities or hobbies this year? Increased your water intake? Maybe you’ve been getting better sleep or made some healthier choices when it comes to your diet and exercise. Small steps are still important and necessary for lasting change. Remember that health and wellness plans don’t have to be focused on losing weight or causing visible changes. Creating better habits can take time and is an ongoing process for everyone. If you have been staying on track with your health and wellness goals this year, way to go! Don’t stop that momentum, maybe you can even challenge yourself to incorporate a new habit or set a new goal. Remember to check in with your healthcare provider for additional insight and support.

Have You Updated Your Health Records?

Having up to date health records is important for both you and your healthcare providers. Health records help track any illnesses, treatments, medical conditions, vaccinations, medications, and more. If you’ve been experiencing any unexplained symptoms, recently gotten results back from any lab tests, or visited any new providers, it’s important to keep all of your information in one place. If you have completed this, great job! Combing through your records every so often to ensure you haven’t missed anything is always a good idea. If this is still something you need to complete, set aside some time this week to pull together any relevant information. Fortunately, there are many apps and online health records that can store confidential health information for you, making this process even easier! Learn more about the Everlywell app.

What Are Your Health Benefits Like?

Health insurance can be very confusing and sometimes difficult to navigate. One of the goals this year was to get a better understanding of your health benefits. Have you taken the time to read through your insurance policy or find what providers are in-network? If you have a new plan or still have unanswered questions about your health coverage, plan some time in the next week to look through your benefits or call your insurance provider to help clarify any information you don’t understand. If your benefits plan is the same as it was last year or there isn’t much learning to be done, you can mark this goal complete! Be sure to check in with your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a Health Savings Account (HSA) if you have one, as you can use your funds for a variety of health and wellness products and services (like our at-home lab tests). You may only be able to roll over a certain amount of funds at the end of the year (if any), so be sure to use that money when you can!

Keeping up With Your Vitamins & Supplements

Regularly taking vitamins and supplements is a great way to support your overall health and wellness. Even if you maintain a reasonably healthy diet, data suggests that vitamins and supplements can still be useful for filling in gaps in your diet or enhancing your health in different ways. [1] Many people struggle to stick to a vitamin routine, but there are some things you can try to stay consistent:

• Get a recurring subscription: If you forget to order new supplements or can’t be bothered to pick them up at the store, sign up for a recurring subscription. Getting your vitamins delivered to your door every few weeks takes away the chore of having to shop for them.
• Set reminders: Set up a reminder or alarm on your phone to alert you when it’s time to take your vitamins. Some people prefer more physical reminders as well, such as marking up a sticky note or calendar.
• Leave them in plain sight: Leave your supplement bottles next to your toothbrush, coffee pot, phone charger, or something that you see and use every day. This can help get you into a routine of taking your vitamins daily.

Even if you have been keeping up with your vitamin routine, incorporating some of these tips can further support your efforts to stay consistent and prioritize your health. Remember to always speak to a healthcare provider about any supplements or vitamins you are taking or plan to take.

Have You Seen a Healthcare Provider This Year?

Have you visited your healthcare provider for your annual check-up? What about the dentist to get your teeth cleaned? Preventative care and regular check-ups are some of the best ways to support your overall health and wellness. During these visits, your healthcare provider can screen you for any conditions or illnesses, discuss outstanding vaccines or prescription refills, etc. Regular check-ups and cleanings may be able to help prevent serious complications down the line or catch on to any problems early. Most insurance plans cover basic preventative care as well. [2] If you haven’t already completed your annual check-ups, there is still plenty of time to call and get those scheduled! Think about all the healthcare providers you should make an appointment to see (the dentist, primary care physician, eye doctor, etc.) and give each one a call this week.

When Was Your Last Vacation?

The last item on the 2024 checklist was to make a tentative vacation calendar. We know that a large percentage of Americans don’t use all of their paid time off. [3] Now that we’re about halfway through the year, you should take a look at how many days you’ve used or have planned on the calendar vs. how many days you have left. If you haven’t already used or scheduled any of your PTO, maybe you could benefit from taking a long weekend soon.

Prioritizing your health and wellness is always worthwhile. Whatever your health goals are, Everlywell is here to support you with telehealth visits, at-home testing, vitamins, and more.

Related Content

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References

1. Wein, H. Hicklin, T. Do You Need Dietary Supplements? NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison. December 2021. URL. Accessed Jan 2024.
2. Health benefits & coverage. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. URL. Accessed Jan 2024.
3. PAID TIME OFF TRENDS IN THE U.S. U.S. Travel Association. URL. Accessed Jan 2024.

Originally published May 30, 2023.

Morgan Spicer, PhD, Medical Communications Manager is a scientific and medical communications expert. She attended graduate school at MUSC, focusing on the mechanisms behind human health and disease. She now works with Everly Health overseeing Medical Communications, where her passions for scientific and clinical literacy across all communities align with her skillset in biomedical sciences.