Your 2024 healthcare checklist
The beginning of a new year means taking the time to reflect on the year that’s gone by and deciding what you want from the one in front of you. This can include developing healthy lifestyle changes, giving up bad habits, and improving your overall well-being.
We're here to help you make a plan for the year with a checklist to get ahead of your health goals and succeed in making them happen! Here are 6 things you can do to set yourself up for a healthy new year (and believe it or not, check off your to-do list before the end of this week):
1. Make a health and wellness plan for the year
Instead of 'new year, new me' think of this year as a next step in your journey to reaching your health and wellness goals. Not a reset, but a recharge. It’s time to celebrate the progress you’ve already made—both the big and the small wins—and build onto it.
Think about your personal health goals and what actions you can take this year to take better control of your health. Maybe that’s getting more sleep, drinking more water, spending more time outdoors, or incorporating more better-for-you recipes in your weekly meal plans. Set weekly and monthly goals using the SMART (specific, measurable, assignable, relevant, and time-based) Goal systems, then track your progress with a health journal, goal tracker, or app. You’ll also want to make sure you’re discussing long term goals with your healthcare provider, who can provide additional insight, support, and resources.
2. Start or update your health records
Your health record is an important and confidential way for you and your healthcare provider to track your health history. This includes all of your past and present medical conditions, family history, illnesses, treatments, vaccinations, prescriptions, and more.
If you’ve visited multiple healthcare providers or taken a new lab test (like one of our at-home lab tests) since your last visit with your primary care provider, you’ll want to update your health records to ensure your information is up to date. In addition to health-related updates, you should also inform your provider if any of your personal information has changed, including your name, address, phone number, etc.
With our new app, keeping track of your results has never been easier. The iOS app makes it possible to access all test results in one place to track your wellness. Learn how to register your test, set reminders, track your results, and more here.
3. Understand your benefits
Whether you chose to stick with the same plan as last year or you are new to the insurance world, take some time at the beginning of the year to familiarize yourself with your benefits package at the beginning of the year. This means combing through the provided coverage information, understanding how to optimize your benefits, and reaching out to your benefits provider if you have questions.
All health insurances are different, so it's important to determine what services or portion of services (routine check-ups, medical appointments, mental health resources, prescriptions, and medical equipment) your plan covers. Some packages may even include fitness memberships and digital wellness resources like the Calm or Headspace app.
If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can use your funds for a variety of health and wellness products and services, including our at-home lab tests.
4. Level up your vitamins & supplements
Ready to make 2024 the year you finally commit to taking vitamins and supplements every day? Sticking to a routine has gotten a lot easier thanks to the Everlywell Daily Multivitamin — a meticulously formulated gummy made with high-quality ingredients for a whole you, every day. The formula includes vitamin A, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, biotin, folate, iodine, and zinc to support a healthy immune system and overall wellness and nutrition.
You can check out the entire suite of vitamins and supplements designed to support a healthier you every day here.
5. Schedule all of your annual check-ups
There’s a lot more to checkups than just your annual visit to the doctor. In addition to your routine physical, check on other important aspects of your health. This should include any additional screenings related to your preexisting conditions or illnesses (as recommended by your healthcare provider), dental, vision, and other age- or sex-specific screenings, like mammograms and pap tests.
With your healthcare provider, discuss any outstanding vaccinations, update or refill your prescriptions, and collaborate to make a health and wellness plan for the upcoming year (see to-do list item number 1). And of course, bring your Everlywell results with you! Our lab tests were created with you, the user, in mind. Your test results can help you gain insight into different aspects of your health and wellness and you should collaborate with your healthcare provider to understand how you can take action on your results.
Bonus: Make a tentative vacation calendar
Fun, but not-so-fun fact: According to the U.S. Travel Association, more than half of Americans don’t use their paid time off and in 2018, 768 million vacation days were left unused.
You deserve to break away from work, whether that means traveling to the next town over for a weekend getaway or planning a staycation at home. Your mental health plays a big role in your overall well-being, so take the time you need to recharge throughout the year. Whether that is by taking a half-day every once in a while, taking an extended weekend trip to visit family, or going on a week-long vacation.
Mark your calendar with days you know you’ll want or need off, and set reminders throughout the year to take your PTO. You deserve it!