With the new year come new resolutions to be good stewards of the bodies (and minds) God gave us. Here are some tips to help you get started. Many of these people and organizations are MCL advertising partners with ads in this edition!
Active Rest, LLC: Find a fun workout
Focus on fun and fellowship. Participate in workouts that you enjoy with the people you love.
Music and dancing are ways I incorporate elements of fun into my workouts. I teach Xtreme Hip Hop step aerobics and line dancing. Music keeps us energized as we perform the moves, and dancing doesn’t feel like a workout.
My workout partners also support and motivate me to stay consistent. I am regularly joined by my friends, family, and neighbors for at-home workouts and neighborhood walks. Having a supportive community also helps build stronger relationships.
– Donna Ellis, lead fitness instructor
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi: Just move!
The secret to better health? Exercise! Being healthy is unique for everyone. However, exercise is the key to everyone’s health, not just now but in their future.
BlueHealth Baptist Medical Director Dr. Timothy Chen says exercise is a keystone habit – one that, if you get it right, can positively affect your nutrition intake, sleep habits, moods, and camaraderie with other people.
“If you look at things that make you live longer and have better health, exercise is the top thing that you can do,” says Dr. Chen. “People who exercise compared to those who don’t have a difference in life expectancy of seven to 10 years.”
Exercise can lower your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers while also improving your range of motion, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and bone health.
Blue Wellness Coach Tameka Johnson says the key to keeping a daily exercise routine is to set short-term goals.
“Set short-term goals and work toward reaching those. Once you reach them, celebrate and repeat,” says Tameka. “At the beginning of the week, start a plan by setting a minimum amount of time and when you want to exercise. Then build from there!”
The general recommendation is 30 minutes a day, five days a week to support good health. Speak with your provider first if you have any health limitations or conditions.
If you’re worried about finding the time to incorporate movement, even small amounts of movement can significantly lower health risks. A recent study by Columbia University found that taking five-minute walks every 30 minutes resulted in better biometrics than walking for a full 30 minutes. The key factor is the overall frequency of movement throughout the day, not just the duration of the exercise.
“At BlueHealth Baptist, we stay up to date on all the emerging health data,” says Dr. Chen. “We can help you prioritize what would affect your health in a meaningful way that is tailored specifically to you.”
BlueHealth Baptist in Madison is a primary care clinic dedicated to members of Blue Cross Blue Shield. The clinic establishes relationships with its patients and provides a high-quality primary care experience that is specific and unique. BlueHealth Baptist has one of the nation’s only drive-up labs, onsite wellness classes, and an outdoor walking track that is open to the public. Call 601-664-4300 to schedule an appointment.
Capital Ortho: Focus on consistent movement
As we welcome the new year, Capital Ortho encourages everyone to prioritize consistent movement as the cornerstone of orthopedic health. Engaging in regular physical activity not only strengthens muscles and joints but also enhances flexibility and balance, reducing the risk of injury.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week, incorporating activities like walking, swimming, or cycling. We also encourage you to include strength training exercises twice a week, focusing on major muscle groups to support joint stability and bone health.
Additionally, integrate movement into your daily routine – take the stairs, stretch during breaks, or enjoy a walk during lunch. Remember, even small actions count! Prioritizing movement helps maintain a healthy weight, improves circulation, and boosts overall well-being. Make this commitment to yourself in the new year, and you’ll see the positive impact it has on your orthopedic health and overall quality of life!
– Dr. Chad Hosemann, MD
Fondren Fitness: Start small, build a routine
Our advice for a healthy 2025 is to pace yourself and build consistency in your daily routine! All too often, people start off the new year with a bang and burn out quickly. Figure out your routine, start with small goals and stick with it! – Terry Sullivan, general manager.
GRIT Fitness & Training: Progress, not perfection
Commit to consistency, not perfection. Whether it’s strength training or cardio, staying consistent with your workouts — no matter how small — yields lasting results. Focus on progress, not perfection, and make fitness a sustainable part of your lifestyle. Small steps lead to big changes! – Mandy Lynskey, founder and co-owner.
Magnolia Recovery & Wellness Foundation: Find balance, prioritize God
The key to a healthy lifestyle is all about balance. We must take care of all aspects of our lives including our bodies, our minds, and our souls. It all starts with a healthy relationship with God and striving to be the best versions of ourselves so that we may glorify Him in all that we do. The choices that we make in life must be in alignment with our values. When choices that we make are not in alignment with our values, this is where certain aspects of our lives become out of balance. This includes our relationships with food, television, sleep patterns, and sometimes other substances. We must prioritize ourselves. Once we do, we can begin to make progress physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center: Schedule a yearly wellness visit
Since 1911, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center has served Mississippi as a Christian-based, nonprofit comprehensive medical center. Now more than 100 years later on the same site in downtown Jackson and as part of one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the country, our services consist of a network of comprehensive healthcare, including a designated burn care center and more than 30 medical clinics in the tri-county area.
A yearly wellness visit with your physician or provider is one of the ways to stay on top of your health. You and your provider can cover any concerns you might have or catch up on any screenings. An annual exam might even help you detect trouble early. If there are any concerns requiring follow-up, our network of specialty clinics backed by Mississippi Baptist Medical Center can take care of all your family’s needs.
Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency: Register to be an organ donor
Organ donation saves lives and gives second chances. One donor can save up to eight lives and heal 75 or more through tissue donation. More than 1,300 Mississippians await transplants. It’s a legacy of hope and generosity that changes families forever. Register your decision to donate at RegisterMe.org.
The Orchard: Be active, eat well, and hydrate
Staying active, eating nutritiously, and maintaining proper hydration are essential components of good health for seniors. As we age, the importance of regular motion becomes even more pronounced. Engaging in activities such as walking, gentle stretching, light gardening, or swimming helps maintain strength, flexibility, and balance. Once you stop moving regularly, it can be difficult to start again, potentially leading to a range of health issues. Reduced mobility can make day-to-day tasks challenging, resulting in a loss of independence. Additionally, remaining sedentary can contribute to increased blood pressure, poor circulation, and even a decline in mood and overall emotional well-being.
Beyond staying active, a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains provides the nutrients seniors need to keep their bodies strong. This type of eating pattern supports healthy digestion, boosts the immune system, and can help keep chronic conditions under control. Proper nutrition also contributes to maintaining a healthy weight, which lowers the risk of cardiovascular issues and joint problems.
Just as critical as nutritious eating is adequate hydration. Drinking plenty of water helps maintain energy levels, supports healthy digestion, and regulates body temperature. Hydration becomes increasingly important as we age because older adults may have a reduced sense of thirst. By making a conscious effort to sip water throughout the day, seniors can prevent issues related to dehydration, such as dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.
Regular motion, a nutrient-rich diet, and sufficient water intake form the cornerstone of senior health, helping maintain independence, well-being, and vitality.
Ovation Wellness: Consider hormone treatment
Perimenopause and menopause often present with symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and fatigue. These can disrupt daily routines, relationships, and overall well-being. There are treatment options to improve emotional health, productivity, and physical comfort. Let our Certified Hormone Specialists at Ovation Wellness individualize treatment options for you.
Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services: Exercise may help alleviate depression
While traditional treatments for depression often involve medication and therapy, evidence suggests exercise is also helpful for managing and alleviating depressive symptoms:
- Exercising can create feelings of happiness by triggering the release of endorphins.
- Over time, physical activity decreases stress hormones like cortisol, promoting relaxation and alleviating tension.
- Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem. Achieving your fitness milestones, even small ones, can send your confidence soaring, preventing the feelings of failure that often accompany depression.
- Attending group fitness classes or signing up for a recreational community sports team can provide valuable opportunities to combat isolation and hopelessness.
What happens to your brain when you exercise?
Engaging in regular physical activity brings about several brain changes that support mood regulation:
- Neurotransmitter regulation: Exercise increases neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which are often low in people suffering from depression.
- Neuroplasticity: Moderate and high-intensity workouts can stimulate the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein that promotes the growth of new neurons and helps protect existing ones. This can enhance brain plasticity, which is crucial for learning and memory, and may alleviate depressive symptoms.
- Reduced inflammation: Regular exercise has proven to reduce inflammatory markers, potentially decreasing depression risk or severity.
How to start a fitness routine:
Here are some tips to ease you into a physically active lifestyle:
- Start with realistically achievable objectives. If you’re new to exercise, start with light 10 to 15 minute walks, gradually increasing the duration and intensity as your fitness level improves.
- Exercise doesn’t have to be tedious or painful. Find activities you like, such as dancing, hiking, yoga, or swimming.
- Set a specific workout schedule and stick to it. Making time for exercise regularly can turn it into a habit.
- Track your progress. Many fitness apps offer structured workout plans, instructional videos, and an encouraging user community.
- Invite a friend or family to join you. Having a workout buddy can increase your accountability and make physical activity more enjoyable.
- Ask an experienced trainer to work with you to create a personalized exercise plan that suits your needs, preferences, and health status.
For more information about Pine Grove’s programs and services for the treatment of depression, other mental healthcare conditions, and addiction, please visit pinegrovetreatment.com, and call 1-888-574-HOPE (4673.)
Prime Care Nursing: Nurses and caregivers, prioritize self-care
As part of a healthcare team, prioritizing your own health is essential for providing the best care to others. In the new year, set aside time for self-care, whether through regular exercise, proper nutrition, or relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or mindfulness. Ensure you get enough sleep to stay alert and resilient. Stay connected with colleagues for emotional support and consider seeking professional help when stress becomes overwhelming. A healthy body and mind enhance your ability to care for patients, so remember to nurture yourself as you nurture others. Your well-being matters, too! – Autumn Cummings, public relations director.
Red River Counseling: Play for health
I regularly lead retreats and have found that the one thing missing in most adults’ lives is play. There’s plenty of escaping, avoiding, distracting, and busyness, but rarely consistent play – doing things you enjoy, with people you enjoy, for the sake of enjoyment. – Branden Henry, founder. More info: RedRiverCounseling.net
Rochelle Thompson: Consistency is key
Consistency is the key to maintaining good health! Consistency in food choices, workouts, healthcare, and spiritual growth is instrumental to healthy living. Philippians 4:13 says we can do all things through Christ. Ask God for strength to be consistent. You can do it! – Rochelle Thompson, public health advocate, fitness instructor and coach.
St. Dominic: Build consistency over perfection
As we step into the new year, St. Dominic’s Fitness Center invites you to make a healthy change in your life today. Mike Schlatter, Fitness Center manager, said his number one health tip for 2025 is to “build consistency over perfection.”
The start of a new year often comes with ambitious resolutions, but all too often, those lofty goals can become overwhelming. Instead of taking an all-or-nothing approach, focus on small, sustainable habits. Whether it’s committing to three 30-minute workouts a week, swapping sugary drinks for water, or carving out 10 minutes daily for mindfulness, consistency is the foundation of lasting change.
Not your typical health club, St. Dominic’s Fitness Center is a medically based facility designed to help you reach and maintain an optimal level of health through safe exercise and strength training. With an exceptional aquatic exercise program, state-of-the-art equipment, and an array of fun and exciting classes — not to mention a personable, qualified staff — St. Dominic’s is the ultimate choice for fitness and well-being.
Patients from our Outpatient Rehab or Cardiopulmonary Rehab programs can make a seamless transition to the Fitness Center for continued lifestyle changes and health benefits. When you join, you’ll receive a fitness assessment and program design, with periodic reassessments to help you track progress.
Our membership privileges include:
- Degreed and certified team
- Heated indoor pool
- Indoor track / outdoor walking trail
- Indoor cycling
- Latest cardio and strength equipment
- Personal training
- Pilates
- Sauna and steam rooms
- Toning and strength classes
- Water aerobics
This year, prioritize progress over perfection. Celebrate small victories, like choosing movement over sitting still, or preparing one healthy meal instead of trying to meal prep for an entire week. Remember, it’s the small, consistent steps forward that add up to big changes.
Visit St. Dominic’s Fitness Center and let us help you start your journey toward a healthier, happier you. Together, we can make 2025 your best year yet. To learn more about memberships and programs, call 601-200-4925.
Stonewater Recovery: Find peace beyond the screen
In our increasingly hectic world, one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and our families in 2025 is a break from our devices.
Our children in particular need this space from screens, technology, and the comparison culture of social media. CDC research data shows that about 1 in 4 teenagers with four hours or more of daily screen time experienced anxiety or depression symptoms as a result.
It’s true: Every time we reach for our phones, we miss an opportunity to reach for something greater. Start small by protecting the dinner hour as a phone-free zone, or dedicate an entire weekend day as a digital sabbath to foster time being present with your family. You’ll likely find that these small changes lead to deeper relationships, better sleep, and, with intention, a more faith-focused spirit.
– Elizabeth Fikes, founder
Watershed Counseling: Set and maintain healthy boundaries
Set boundaries when visiting family to maintain your mental health. Communicate your needs clearly, like limiting the length of your stay or stepping away for alone time if needed. Respectfully address sensitive topics and prioritize self-care. Healthy boundaries ensure meaningful connections without sacrificing your emotional well-being.
Wendy Maxwell, counselor: Spend your time wisely
Put first things first and remember that you can choose to fill your time with activities, thoughts, habits, and relationships that are life-giving or soul-crushing. Choose wisely!
- Be intentional about what you choose to focus on mentally and emotionally.
- Be intentionally thankful every day.
- Be intentional about how you choose to spend your time.
- Be intentional about being in the present moment.
Give yourself permission to:
- Say no.
- Say yes.
- Get off social media.
- Stop worrying about what everyone else says or thinks.
- Set boundaries.
More info: RestorationCounselingGroup.com | 601-832-7450 | 701 Avignon Dr., Ste. 102, Ridgeland
YMCA: Be consistent
The YMCA is for social responsibility, youth development, and healthy living, and health is all about consistency. The actions you consistently do mold who you are. Implementing one healthy action consistently can, over time, allow major change. The YMCA is here to help you make those choices! – Kooper Davis, senior director of wellness.