-Healthy Questions to Help Make you Healthy… How to Organize the Health Area of Your Life by: Janet L. Hall ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Many people make New Year's resolutions, only to break them within a week or a month afterwards.

Many people either do or do not set goals for themselves. Some people have no idea how to set goals.

So, let's look at the difference between resolutions and goals.

"Webster's New World Compact School and Office Dictionary" copyright 1994, offers these definitions:

~~ Resolution-1 the act or result of resolving something 2 a thing determined upon; decision as to future action 3 a resolute quality of mind 4 a formal statement of opinion or determination by an assembly, etc.

~~ Goal-1 the place at which a race, trip, etc. is ended 2 an end that one strives to attain 3 in some games, a) the line or net over or into which the ball or puck must go to score b) the score made.

Notice # 2 in each definition and let's use 'losing weight' as our example. (I use this as an example because it is the number one New Years resolution).

The statement. "I'm going to lose weight this year" doesn't really have any meaning, focus, or structure.

The statement "I have determined that I need to lose weight and will walk one mile three times a week so that I can wear the new dress/suit that is too tight."

See the difference? See how the second statement has more clarity and structure?

We have determined the problem, decided on the action we want or need to take, and what end we are striving to attain.

This is the way to focus on a problem, make a resolution, and set a goal.

I call this “Goal-Resolve”.

"Goal-Resolve! What is this woman talking about?"

Goal-Resolve: a statement that determines a problem, what action you need to take, and to what end you want to attain.

Below is a list of the recommended traditional health tests and exams you should have, listed with age and frequency of exams. The frequency suggested is for those of you that have no symptoms or any history of risk. Please consult with your doctor to find out if you need to be tested more frequently.

Print out the list and place an X next to the tests or exams that you NEED to GET PERFORMED.

By the way, when was the last time you had a physical?

___Physical 21-39: every 3 years 40-49: every 2 years 50-74: Yearly ___Blood Pressure 21-74: every 2 years, more often if high or low ___Blood Cholesterol 21-74: every 5 years, more often if high ___Bone-density scan (DEXA or pDEXA) 40-59: Postmenopausal women with one or more osteoporosis risk factors or who have had a bone fracture and men should consult with doctor. After 65: every 2 years ___Breast self-exam 15 + : Monthly ___Cancer checkup and health counseling 21-39: every 3 years 40-74: Yearly ___Chest X-ray and lung function test Yearly for smokers; baseline check at 40 for nonsmokers ___Clinical Breast Examination 21-39: every 3 years 40-74: Yearly ___Dental Checkup 21 + : every 6 months ___Digital Rectal Exam 21-49: not necessary if no symptoms 50-74: every 5-10 years ___Electrocardiogram 40-74: Baseline at 40 and as recommended by your doctor thereafter ___Fecal Occult Blood Test 21-50: not necessary if no symptoms and no family history of colon cancer 50-74: Yearly ___Hearing 21-39: not necessary if no symptoms 40-74: as necessary, every 5-10 years ___Influenza Vaccine 21-49: optional 50-74: Yearly ___Mammogram 21-39: Baseline at 35, then every 1-2 years 40-74: Yearly ___Pelvic Exam/Pap Smear 21 + : yearly ___Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) 50 + : Yearly ___Sigmoidoscopy (colon examination) 21-49: not necessary if no symptoms and no family history of colon cancer 50-74: every 5 years ___Skin Exam (for signs of cancer) 21-39: self-exam every month 40-74: yearly by dermatologist ___Testicular Self-Exam 21 + : monthly ___Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) Booster 21 + : every 10 years ___Thyroid-stimulating Hormone Test 65 + : every 3-5 years ___Triglycerides 21-59: every 5 years 60-74: at doctors recommendation ___Urinalysis 50-59: every 10 years 60-74: every 5 years ___Vision 21-39: yearly if you wear glasses; once before age 40 40-59: every 2-4 years 60-74: Yearly

(The above list was compiled from *Family Circle*- Your Personal Planner, Wellness Guide, Vol. 25, No. 15) If you are 74 +, please check with your doctor for their recommendations of frequency.

Some other vaccinations that you might need to add to your list are: ~~Pneumonia shot at age 60 and again at 67 ~~Hepatitis B for those of you that are health workers or living with a carrier ~~Hepatitis A if you plan to visit Third World countries ~~Cholera, Typhoid Fever, Yellow Fever, and other diseases endemic to areas where you plan to travel ~~Lyme Disease if you live, work or vacation in high-risk areas or are exposed to ticks for any length of time. (The highest-risk states in the US are those in the northeast, plus Minnesota and Wisconsin)

If you have children or grandchildren, please make sure that they are getting their necessary and required shots.

Call your doctor, dentist, vision and hearing doctors today and set up your appointments for yourself (and any loved ones) for the year.

Schedule a date with a nutritionist and make sure you are eating properly and getting the proper amount of vitamin supplements. Nutritionist in my area charge about $60 for the first visit. It was money well spent and an amazing experience.

Talk with your doctor about exercise and what type is best for you. It might be as simple as taking a daily walk.

If you're a business or SOHO owner, you MUST be healthy to meet the demands that confront you on a daily basis.

OverHalling your problem areas might be harder for you if you are already tired, dragging your feet, achy, sore and don't know what's wrong. OverHalling is not easy! It will take time, commitment, energy, and strength.

Don't let getting healthy become a resolution that you break or a goal that you never accomplish. Make it a *Goal-Resolve*!

Smiles, not Piles, Janet L. Hall

The Organizing Wizard, Janet L. Hall, is a Professional Organizer, Speaker, and Author of 'Secrets of a Professional Organizer and How-To Become One.' She is the owner of OverHall Consulting and Organizing By Phone. Subscribe to her FREE organizing newsletter at http://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm or visit her web site at http://www.overhall.com

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