10 Health Tips for 2026

Is one of your goals for 2026 to to focus on your health? If so, the American Medical Association (AMA) has 10 evidence-based tips to help you. Check out this advice from doctors for taking steps to have a healthy new year:

Get health screenings: Schedule preventive visits, tests and screenings so your physician can catch conditions before they become more serious.

Manage stress: Mental health is part of overall health. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and yoga can help reduce stress. Ask for help from a mental health professional when you need it.

Be physically active: Start the year off by prioritizing physical activity. Strive for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week. If you have a sedentary lifestyle or primarily sit for long stretches at work, build in frequent breaks to stretch and move throughout your day.

Follow a healthy diet: Drink water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages and eat nutritious, whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, low-fat dairy products and lean proteins. Avoid unhealthy ultra-processed foods, especially those with high levels of added sodium, saturated fats and sugar. Drinking sugary beverages, even 100% fruit juice, is associated with a higher mortality risk, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water or other beverages composed mostly of water, such as milk or herbal tea, to avoid dehydration and to keep your body functioning properly. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. Adult men should get about 15.5 cups of fluids a day and women should get 11.5 cups, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Get plenty of good sleep: To maintain your health and emotional well-being, most adults need 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep. Rest helps boost immunity and improve mental clarity.

Update vaccinations: Vaccinations remain the best defense against flu and other serious respiratory viruses. Since significant flu activity can stretch into May, it’s not too late to get a flu shot. The AMA recommends vaccination as long as the threat of flu remains. Talk with your physician or other health care professional to determine which vaccines are right for you. To cut through vaccine confusion and have open, honest conversations with your physician, first go to the AMA website for evidence-based information. For help finding a flu vaccine in your area, visit GetMyFluShot.org.

Drink in moderation: If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines: up to one drink per day for women and two drinks for men, and only for adults of legal drinking age.

Quit tobacco, nicotine and e-cigarettes: Ask your doctor or health care professional for resources and guidance to help quit smoking, vaping or using other nicotine products. Make your home and car smoke-free to eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.

Follow medication directions: When taking prescriptions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication. If you’re prescribed antibiotics, complete the full course to prevent antibiotic resistance.

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Unlike health resolutions for the new year, which can feel daunting and often are not adhered to after the first week of January, these are common sense tips that should be easy for you to stick with. They include things you know and can follow all year long to make sure you are the healthiest you can be!