7 Simple Ways to Make 2026 Your Healthiest Year Yet

As we look ahead to 2026, many people start thinking about how they want to feel in the new year, more energy, less stress, stronger bodies, and better overall health. Unfortunately, New Year’s goals often become overwhelming because they’re built on extremes instead of sustainable habits.

The truth is, creating a healthier year doesn’t require perfection, restriction, or complicated plans. It requires simple, intentional habits done consistently.

As a certified personal trainer, exercise physiologist, and holistic nutritionist, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients over the years. I’ve seen what truly makes a difference, not just short-term results, but long-term health, strength, and resilience.

In this blog, I’m sharing seven simple things you can start doing now to make 2026 your healthiest year yet. These habits focus on movement, nutrition, sleep, mindset, stress reduction, and overall well-being. When practiced together, they support not only your physical health, but your mental, emotional, and spiritual health as well.

You don’t need to do everything at once, start with one or two and build from there. Small changes, done consistently, create powerful results. These seven simple changes can transform how you feel in your body, boost your energy, and support long-term health.

1. Start Weight Training (It’s the Most Important Thing You Can Do for Your Body)

If I could recommend only one thing for your health, it would be strength training.

Weight training is not just about aesthetics—it’s about function, longevity, and resilience. As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass and bone density. Strength training is the most effective way to slow that process, protect your joints, and maintain independence as you get older.

Benefits of weight training include:

• Increased muscle and strength
• Stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
• Improved metabolism and blood sugar control
• Better balance and injury prevention
• Enhanced confidence and mental strength

I’ve seen firsthand how strength training changes lives. Clients come to me feeling weak, tired, and frustrated that they can’t lose weight, then a couple months later they’re moving better, losing body fat, and feeling proud of what they’ve accomplished!

You don’t need hours in the gym. Two to three focused strength sessions per week can make a massive difference. The key is proper form, progressive overload, and consistency. If you’ve been hesitant to lift weights, let 2026 be the year you start. Your future self will thank you.

2. Ditch Vegetable Oils and Choose Healthier Fats

One of the simplest nutrition upgrades you can make is swapping out vegetable and seed oils for healthier fat options.

Many highly processed vegetable oils (such as soybean, corn, canola, and sunflower oil) are commonly found in packaged foods and restaurant meals. These oils are often heavily refined and can contribute to inflammation.

Instead, focus on healthier, more natural fats, such as:

• Olive oil (great for salads and low-heat cooking)
• Avocado oil (excellent for higher-heat cooking)
• Coconut oil (use in moderation for cooking and baking)

Healthy fats support hormone health, brain function, and nutrient absorption. They also help you feel satisfied after meals, which can reduce cravings and overeating.

Fats are important for our health and choosing better quality oils is a powerful step toward better overall wellness.

3. Stay Away From Ultra-Processed and Processed Foods and Cook More Meals at Home

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere, and they make healthy eating much harder than it needs to be. These foods are often high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, sodium, and artificial ingredients, while being low in nutrients.

You don’t have to be perfect, but aim to eat more whole, minimally processed, nutrient dense foods and cook more meals at home whenever possible.

Simple ways to start:

Cooking at home gives you control over what goes into your food. It doesn’t have to be fancy! Simple, nourishing meals prepared consistently will do far more for your health than the occasional “perfect” diet week. I love teaching clients how to prepare healthy meals! It is a huge part of your health journey!

Progress, not perfection, is the goal.

4. Prioritize Good Sleep and Go to Bed at the Same Time When Possible

Sleep is often the most overlooked pillar of health, yet it affects everything from metabolism and hormones to mood, energy, and recovery.

You don’t need perfect sleep, but you do need consistent sleep.

Try to:

• Go to bed at the same time each night
• Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep
• Create a calming nighttime routine
• Reduce screen time before bed

When sleep is inconsistent or insufficient, it becomes harder to manage stress, maintain motivation, and make healthy food choices. Your workouts won’t feel as good, or you will skip because you’re too tired. Another reason sleep is so important is that without proper sleep your body won’t recover as well.

Think of sleep as part of your training program, not something optional. In 2026, let rest be a priority!.

5. Practice positive thinking and gratitude

Health isn’t just physical, it’s mental and emotional too.

We all experience challenges. Choose to focus on what’s going right, even during difficult seasons. I always try to thank God for what I do have, my blessings, instead of what I may feel is lacking in my life. This truly works!

Simple ways to practice gratitude:

• Write down three things you’re grateful for each day
• Start your morning with a positive intention
• Notice what your body can do, not just how it looks
• Speak kindly to yourself

I’ve seen how mindset shifts change outcomes. Clients who practice gratitude are more consistent, more patient with themselves, and more likely to stick with healthy habits long-term.

A positive mindset creates a healthier nervous system, and that impacts your entire body.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Stay Consistent

You don’t need an extreme overhaul to make 2026 your healthiest year. You need simple habits done consistently:

As you move into 2026, focus on these seven foundational habits:

• Strength training regularly

• Choosing healthier fats and whole foods

• Cooking more meals at home and limiting processed foods

• Prioritizing consistent, quality sleep

• Practicing gratitude and positive thinking

• Spending time outdoors enjoying nature and God’s creation

• Reducing screen time and stepping away from constant news

As a personal trainer who has walked alongside many people on their health journeys, I can confidently say this: the basics work when you commit to them. You don’t need to be perfect, you need to be consistent. Sure, there are many other things we can add, but starting with a few things, making them habits and watching the positive changes that occur will give you the strength to keep going!

Give yourself grace, celebrate progress, and remember that every healthy choice counts. If you stay focused on these simple habits, 2026 can be a year of greater strength, lower stress, deeper gratitude, and better overall health.

Here’s to a healthier, stronger, and more balanced year ahead!

Elissa XOXO