Ring in the New Year

New Year’s Eve: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … New Year’s Eve is possibly the biggest party of the year, often leading to the biggest hangover of the year.

Do you recognise the words “I’m never drinking again”? We’ve all said them and now is your chance to capitalise on your wisdom. Although we all want to have a couple of drinks to celebrate the New Year with our mates, there is no reason we have to punish our poor, defenceless livers to the point of sickness.

So Virtual Medical Centre have compiled some tips to avoid consuming excessive amounts of alcohol this New Year’s Eve:

• Think about the acceptability, harm and cost of excessive alcohol consumption on New Year’s Eve before you go out. For example, think about how much money you will spend, the potential risks of consuming too much alcohol, and how you will feel the following day;
• Eat before and while drinking alcohol. This may be easier (and healthier) if you take food from home to outdoor New Year’s Eve spots, where food may not be available or you may have to stand in long queues to get food;
• Avoid refilling a glass while it is half empty, as this makes it difficult to keep track of how much is consumed;
• Space alcoholic drinks by having a glass of water or a soft drink in between;
• Avoid buying drinks in “shouts” or “rounds” as this encourages everyone to keep up with the person who is drinking the fastest;
• Keep busy dancing, watching entertainment or chatting with friends while awaiting the New Year, as this can reduce the amount of alcohol consumed;

For more information, see Healthy Alcohol Consumption on New Year’s Eve.

The miracle new therapy to avoid bad health: Sleep!

During the festive season, we tend to party more and sleep less. We can forget that our bodies need to rest in order to function at their peak, or even function at all. The effects of sleep deprivation can be quite severe and can also lead to more serious conditions.

Lack of sleep can make it difficult to lose weight (yes, it’s true), regulate our mood, think properly and even remember simple things. So don’t get daft, get some sleep and your tired brain will thank you for it.

For more information, see Getting Enough Sleep.

New Year’s Resolutions, not Revolutions

If you’ve had an ongoing health issue that just won’t get better, go and see your doctor. If you don’t have one – find one. During the holidays, we can make time for things that we never have time for, like visiting the dentist (gasp!), getting your eyes and skin checked, or maybe just starting up a healthy walking routine.

The Australian summer sun is glorious, but it’s also harsh. The kids might spend the holidays at the beach, so maybe ask them to come along for a mole check too.

Although things like mole checks, Pap smears and blood tests may be less appealing than a beer garden at noon, there’s always time for both.

Even following through on just a couple of Resolutions could make a big difference in your life. It is not necessary to revolutionise your life by running marathons or eating raw food. Just cutting down on extra cake can sometimes lead to change.

More information

For more information on staying healthy in the New Year, including tips on diet, partying, exercise and general health, see Health in the New Year.