The new year is the time for making resolutions. So why not make a few that benefit your health? Over the past year we’ve all made various adjustments to our lifestyles, and some of them look promising. If you haven’t already adopted these five habits for better health, why not start now?

Socially distanced vacations. Few want to head to a densely crowded tourist location for a getaway, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up fun and recreation altogether. Whereas amusement parks and cruises have fallen out of favor, hiking, camping, and vacations to more remote locations are still considered relatively safe. These destinations tend to include more physical activity, too.

Home cooking and plant-based diets. During our increased time at home, many turned to cooking as a new way to spend time. A diet based around home-cooked meals, and lower in fast food or convenience food, is typically going to be more nutritious. Add in home delivery or safe shopping at a farmer’s market, and you can avoid crowded grocery stores.

Monitoring vitals from home. The rise of telemedicine led to home monitoring of vital signs. Patients who check their blood sugar, blood pressure, heart rate, and other essential data daily are much more likely to discover signs of a health problem early on.

Stress reduction tactics. If there is anything positive about experiencing a more stressful year, it’s that many people learned better coping mechanisms. If you haven’t already adopted a daily yoga, meditation, or other routine aimed at reducing stress, there is no time like the present! Reducing stress is not only good for your mental health; it lowers the risk of numerous medical problems too.

Home-based workouts. When gyms closed, many of us experimented with home-based workout apps or YouTube classes. With physical fitness attainable from your own living room, there has never been a better time to adopt a daily exercise habit. But of course, check with your doctor first, to be sure that your exercise plans are safe for you.