PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

New Year's Resolutions

By Dr. David Butler-Jones

Resolutions tend to be taken with a grain of salt, a bit like making a promise to ourselves that we know we probably won’t keep. When it comes to our health, though, and that of our families and communities, it’s always a good idea to put in that extra effort to make some positive changes.

So as Canada 's Chief Public Health Officer, I want to offer some practical and achievable tips that can be part of making 2008 a little healthier, and hopefully, a little more personally fulfilling -- not just from my own perspective, but also in keeping with how we approach public health here at the Public Health Agency of Canada.

We know that how we live, where we live, our work, education, economics, income, the environment and other factors, all influence our ability to be healthy. These factors are essential challenges we must face as a society if we hope to improve and sustain health. There are also some personal choices to influence our own health, and they may not be too difficult.

If we take even some of them to heart, they really can improve our odds for a happy and healthy year:

• Eat well and be active. This one might be obvious, but sometimes it’s the obvious things we overlook. Obesity is an increasingly serious public health issue in Canada, but small changes in lifestyle can add up and have a positive effect. Just cutting out one sweet soft drink a day could reduce your weight by ten to fifteen pounds a year. And think about opportunities to keep active, even if it’s just a few minutes of extra activity each day: stretching, a short jaunt with the dog, parking a few blocks from work, or better yet, cycling to work. It all helps.
• Flu Season. ‘Tis the season for colds and flu. Get your flu shot, cover up your coughs, sneeze into your sleeve, and wash your hands often. These are good ways to reduce your odds of catching and spreading the flu and other infections. And, if you’re sick, stay home. This not only helps you get some much needed rest while you recover, it spares your co-workers from catching your infection.
• Keep a Healthy Kitchen.Treat your own kitchen as you would expect in a four-star restaurant. Wash your hands (again!), keep food preparation surfaces clean, cook meats to the proper temperature before serving, and keep things cold that are meant to be kept cold. Bacteria that cause food poisoning thrive at room temperature.
• Be Safe. Winter means icy steps and slippery sidewalks, so please be careful and be aware of the dangers of falling. Indoors, you can take some simple steps to keep your surroundings a bit safer by, for instance, reducing clutter, installing handrails on stairs, childproofing the family room, upgrading fuse boxes, and installing and checking the batteries on smoke detectors. It's best never to smoke, but if you do, go outside or somewhere where non-smokers don't have to breathe it with you. Outside of your home, please buckle up your seatbelt, wear your helmet, and avoid unnecessary risks.
• Travel Smart. Vaccinations are not just for fighting the flu. Smart travellers think ahead, consult their family physician or travel clinic, and receive the appropriate immunization and get good travel advice before they leave home.
• Be an active part of the community. It may not be obvious, but being active and engaged in society makes a big difference in terms of both your individual health and that of your community. Volunteer, vote, join, reach out to people, help your neighbour. There are connections between physical health, mental health, and the social networks and connections you keep. And be green, because building and being a part of a healthy community also means trying to reduce your environmental footprint, for your own health, everyone else’s, and for the future.
• Chill out. Modern life is full of stresses and seeming contradictions, from miracle fixes to magic pills and conflicting advice about what and what not to eat. But if I’ve learned anything over the years, and if history has taught us anything, it’s the importance of taking “everything in moderation, including moderation.” That means take life seriously, but not so seriously that it becomes a barrier to good mental and physical health. What’s more, whatever your circumstances, make the best of them and enjoy life. Be passionate about something, and if you make a mistake don't beat yourself up about it -- find a way to make it better or get someone to help you to do so. We are not on this journey alone.

Any or all of these resolutions will help keep you and your family safe and healthy, and will even contribute to the overall health of your community. This is what public health is all about, and what the Public Health Agency strives for: healthier Canadians and communities in a healthier world. It sounds like an impossible task, but together I think we have a very good chance of succeeding.

Dr. David Butler-Jones
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada