Whether your health and wellness goals are your own or from a doctor, meeting them can be challenging. Finding personalized support for healthy habits, focusing on just what you need, can boost your chances of success.
Despite the best of intentions, it’s common for vows to build healthier habits to fall flat. Often, the culprit isn’t a lack of motivation or discipline; rather, it’s unrealistic expectations.
Overhauling your lifestyle requires a level of commitment that isn’t always practical. Understanding your personal health needs and the challenges you need to overcome can help give you a more realistic roadmap toward better health.
Tools that offer support for healthy habits
Every plan needs a starting point. Many reputable sources can help guide you toward a plan that addresses your personal health needs, from your health care provider to a reputable personal trainer. The American Heart Association offers My Life Check, a simple, free tool to help individuals understand their heart health and what’s driving it. Users answer simple questions about their daily habits and health factors to get a personalized Heart Health Score in minutes.
The results are private and downloadable, giving you full control of your information. The tool gives you a score for each of eight categories. Knowing your numbers relative to your heart health (and where you are in comparison to target ranges for optimal health) can help you decide how to build a better map to get you where you want to be.
For categories that you need to improve or focus on, the tool identifies what goals are important for you – rather than suggesting an overwhelming list of all health goals. From there, it suggests support for healthy habits, directing you to fact sheets and resources with small, specific actions you can start right away.
While the report is customized to each individual, no personal data is stored and answers are only used to calculate health scores and provide personalized recommendations and practical steps to improve your health, so you can use your results to focus on what matters most to you. Every small step you take, such as moving more, eating smarter, sleeping better, or managing stress, can add up over time.
Finding your personal path
Once you’re armed with data and know where you stand on your heart health numbers, small steps as support for healthy habits become clearer and more manageable. That knowledge makes it easier to choose one area to focus on, such as getting more sleep, taking daily walks, or adding more color to your meals.
Healthy changes don’t need to be expensive or complicated. The best habits are ones that fit real life when every action you take moves you closer to your goals.
Eat smart
Choose foods that help you feel your best, one meal at a time. Add more color to your plate and focus on balance, not restriction. Simple, affordable swaps can make a real difference.
Move more
Find movement that fits your life, such as a walk, a stretch, or dancing while you cook. Every bit of activity counts, and it all supports your heart and mind. Move for joy, not just for results.
Sleep well
Rest is a foundation of good health, not a reward. Protect your bedtime routine and give your body the recovery it deserves. Notice how quality sleep makes everything else easier.
Manage stress
Check in with yourself regularly, both mentally and emotionally. Create simple moments to pause, breathe, laugh, or step outside. Connection, kindness, meditation, and calm all support a healthy heart.
Staying motivated and on track is also easier when you can check back in, see your progress, and realize the steps you’re taking are making an impact. Checking in every few months to see how you can grow gives you the chance to celebrate your progress, learn from challenges, and keep building lasting habits that feel good. To get started with personalized tips from the American Heart Association, visit heart.org/mylifecheck.
