The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on all we’ve accomplished, and to look ahead at what areas of our lives need some work. One area of your life that should always be prioritized: safety!
Here are 5 New Year’s resolutions that will help you stay proactive in keeping yourself safe throughout 2024.
1. Stop Texting and Driving
Distracted driving accounts for 3,000 fatalities in car crashes every year, and one of the leading sources that causes drivers to lose focus is texting while driving. In fact, 48 states have banned texting and driving, which makes sense given that the NHTSA reports that sending or reading a text can cause drivers to take their eyes off the road for up to 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s enough time to drive the length of a football field!
This year, take a new approach. Send a message before you leave to let whoever you’re talking to that you’re going to be driving and can’t talk for a little while.
In fact, cell phones offer ample opportunity for distraction to drivers, from scrolling social media to making phone calls. No matter how tempting that notification is, remember that it can always wait until later—the safety of you, your passengers, and your fellow drivers should always come first.
2. Keep Your Car in Tip-Top Shape
Throughout the year, cars need regular maintenance. Oil changes every 3,000 miles, tire rotations, realignment, windshield wiper replacement, brake and tire replacements and more. If keeping up with this throughout the year is overwhelming, try scheduling yourself a monthly reminder to ensure you always have a sense of your vehicle’s upcoming maintenance needs.
A maintained vehicle is a safe vehicle—remember that you are on the road with other people, and keeping your car in good shape makes the road safer for you, but also for everyone else.
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3. Eat Better and Get Some Sleep
Adopting healthier habits reduces personal injury risks, and basic changes in your life can make a big difference! Examples of lifestyle changes you can make include:
Getting enough sleep: Most adults need 7 hours of sleep per night, and kids need 8-10 or more. Getting enough sleep can help improve not only overall health, but it also helps us think more clearly and make better decisions.
Maintaining a balanced diet: Eating healthy boosts immunity, improves overall health, strengthens bones, and lowers risk of heart disease among other illnesses. But make sure to discuss any dietary changes you make with your healthcare provider to get tailored recommendations for your personal health.
Reduce your stress: No one likes being stressed out, and medical experts say it’s not very good for us either. Meditating can make you feel at peace, calm and balanced, but reducing your stress can be as simple as taking a little time for yourself each day.
Your personal safety is priority one, and you should take any opportunity you can to reduce potential personal injury risks. This year, take the simple steps to get yourself on the right track.
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4. Update Your Records in Case of Emergency
Being a responsible adult comes with a lot of paperwork—and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by it from time to time. From medical paperwork to financial information, to estate planning, and more, it’s important to keep your records updated.
If you get into a car accident, did you set up an emergency fund to help you cover the unexpected costs? How about insurance? Do you have everything covered you need covered? If you’re guilty of keeping this task on the back burner, think about planning out your year so that you’re prepared if a disaster strikes.
Estate planning is a necessary way to make sure you keep your loved ones accounted for no matter what happens. Do you have your medical records up to date and available? The process is simple through the HealthIT.gov website. Do you have a healthcare proxy assigned? In Massachusetts, the process to set up a healthcare proxy is straightforward— there’s even a website with simple instructions.
Organize a to-do list throughout the year so you can keep this information up to date and that way if you need it, you know you’ve kept yourself safe. By year’s end, you can have healthcare that covers everything you need, a will and estate plan, a security fund for a rainy day and medical records that are up to date. Just make you create a plan, stick to it, and tackle each item on the list one at a time.
5. Train Yourself to Help Others
What can you do to keep the people around you safe? Do you know first aid? CPR? Check your local area for classes, trainings and certifications, and learn to help protect others by learning skills firsthand. No one expects a medical emergency to happen, but preparation can make a potential crisis manageable.
The Red Cross offers training courses you can sign up for anytime on their website and the American Heart Association has information about community programs. Or try your local community’s website for training opportunities.
