Small Changes, Big Impact: How to Be Healthier in 2025
Making big resolutions to overhaul your lifestyle can feel overwhelming. The good news? Small, sustainable changes can make a huge difference to your overall health. Why is this important?
Cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) and metabolic disease (obesity and type 2 diabetes) are common, preventable and related chronic diseases. Together they are cardiometabolic disease and are the leading cause of death in Australia.
Here are four easy steps you can take in 2025 to improve your cardiometabolic health - without a complete life overhaul.
1. Move Your Body More
Regular movement is essential for both your physical and mental wellbeing. Benefits include improved mood, better brain function, increased energy and a reduced risk of chronic diseases.
Different Ways to Get Moving:
- Walking: A brisk walk can do wonders for your cardiovascular health and is an easy activity to incorporate into your daily routine.
- Lifting Weights: Strength training builds muscle, improves metabolism and enhances bone health.
- Stretching: Stay flexible and prevent injuries by incorporating stretching into your routine. Bonus: it’s a great stress reliever!
- Dancing: Combine fun with fitness. Put on your favorite tunes and dance like nobody’s watching.
Our best tip with moving more - start small. Take the stairs, park farther away, hop off the bus/train/tram one stop earlier, or schedule a daily 10-minute walk. Every bit counts.
2. Get a Free Health Check
Staying on top of your health doesn’t have to be expensive. With services like the SiSU Health Station, you can check key health metrics, such as blood pressure and BMI, for free. Download the SiSU Health app to receive personalised tips and track your progress over time.
A quick health check can provide the insights you need to make informed decisions about your health, or help you remain motivated long-term.
Find your closest SiSU Health Station here.
3. Eat More Home Cooked Meals
Home cooking gives you control over ingredients and portion sizes, making it one of the easiest ways to improve your diet. It also can help by eating less harmful additives.
Top Tips for Simplifying Home Cooking:
- Quick and Easy Recipes: Keep a list of go-to meals for busy days. Think stir-fries, pasta dishes, hearty salads, rice bowls or BBQs.
- Plan Ahead: Create a weekly meal plan and grocery shop accordingly. For even more convenience, consider a four-week rotating meal plan.
- Use Technology: Google recipes or use tools like ChatGPT to create meal plans and shopping lists.
- Frozen Vegetables: Always have a stash of frozen veggies for quick, nutritious add-ins.
- Batch Cooking: Make large portions of soups, stews, sauces or casseroles and freeze leftovers for future meals.
- Get Inspired: Invest in a new cookbook or explore food blogs to keep things fresh and exciting. There are lots of free resources available.
4. Reduce or Quit Smoking and Alcohol
Both smoking and excessive alcohol consumption have long-term health risks, including heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Reducing or quitting these habits can significantly improve your quality of life.
The Benefits:
- Smoking: After just one year of quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is halved compared to a smoker’s.
- Alcohol: Cutting down can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of several diseases, improve mood and memory and enhance sleep quality.
Not ready to quit cold turkey? Start small by setting limits or exploring alternatives, such as mocktails or nicotine replacement therapies.
The Australian Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) recommend that you don't drink more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. For more information, including what constitutes a standard drink, visit the ADF's alcohol guidelines here.
The key – small and consistent.
Healthier living doesn’t require drastic changes. Making small changes and being consistent with them will help improve your health. Start with focusing on one key area, then move onto the next.
Over time, the new changes will become your new normal.
Disclaimer: This article is general advice only. Always check with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or lifestyle.