After the holidays and celebrations have passed, it is a great time to take stock of what the last year brought to you and the moments that were special. We’ve put together some prompts to help you reflect and journal about the past year.

Many of us begin the year with new goals, particularly fitness and health goals. This year, we are introducing a tool to help you not only monitor your fitness goals but also to plan them ahead of time.

The month of January is a time designated to focus on cervical health awareness in the United States. As with so many awareness campaigns, cervical cancer is a preventable disease with the proper measures taken. Through regular screening and vaccination, women can prevent cervical cancer or human papillomavirus (HPV) disease.

During the month of January, we join in spreading awareness about glaucoma. Most people have heard of glaucoma but may not be aware of how it affects your eyes. Typically, glaucoma is not detected without a dilated eye exam from your optometrist. Because glaucoma has no warning signs, it can occur rather unexpectedly.

January 1st is synonymous with New Years’ Resolutions. “New Year, New You” in bright, playful fonts encourage you to become the best version of yourself each year. As different companies seek to grab your attention in hopes of helping you meet the weight loss goals you’ve set for yourself, one area that can derail your progress is establishing the time to exercise.

Ski season is upon us! Most mountains are covered in snow this time of year, and, for some, that means bundling up and hitting the slopes. Lift machines are in full rotation and hot chocolate machines are stocked and running non-stop while a rush of patrons fresh out of the Christmas haze forms a queue to rent ski or snowboarding gear in hopes of returning to their favorite sport or trying something new for the first time.

This Winter Wellness Challenge is designed for adults who want to cultivate healthy habits and foster a sense of well-being during the cold winter months. The challenge encourages participants to track and engage in wellness-focused activities each day, using a downloadable habit tracker/bingo card to stay accountable.

Participate in a year-end reflection to help you recognize your own strengths or weaknesses, accomplishments, positive memories or things you did, lessons learned, or new skills gained. This self-improvement tool helps you see what you want to do better and set goals for the future year.

This form of yoga can be done while sitting in a chair. For those with limited mobility it can be easier and much more manageable. The practice of yoga can help us alleviate pain and so much more.

A fun, therapeutic activity that promotes cognitive stimulation, fine motor skills, and language skills is the Winter Word Scramble. This game is designed for adults or individuals of any age and can be a fantastic way to celebrate the winter season while also promoting therapeutic practice areas.

As we progress into the coming winter months, you may experience an unwelcome lull in your mood toward leaving the house or engaging in social activities. For most people, these feelings are absolutely normal and come as a result of holiday-related stress, cold weather, or shorter days, but some experience a common form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Planning is a large component of adult life and extends into most facets of our lives. Our abilities and skill in planning might not come naturally or may take development. Many individuals may not take the time to sit down and try to identify their goals in life overall.

This interactive game helps adults improve their emotional intelligence and non-verbal communication skills, which are valuable in both personal and professional settings.'

Incorporate good sleep hygiene into your routine. Use these card prompts to create new sleep habits and help you get to bed when you are feeling restless.

Ease carpal tunnel pain and tension, especially for those who are now using the computer for more prolonged periods.

Our ADLs Chore Card Challenge is a card-based activity for adults focusing on some of the things occupational therapists work on with individuals. This game helps adults practice and improve their everyday functional skills and independence through developing and managing a routine for their regular chores.

During the month of November, the National Lung, Heart, and Blood Institute recognizes, National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Awareness Month. Their aim is to focus on increasing awareness of this disease because with early diagnosis and beginning treatment, patients with this disease can find ways to improve their overall quality of life.

With the busy holiday season quickly approaching, it is important that we are all focused (especially now) on our mental and physical health. One way to make sure you are taking care of yourself is to get enough rest. But what if you feel like you don’t normally get very good sleep?

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia. It is a degenerative disease that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. As Alzheimer’s progresses, the individual will lose the ability to care for oneself. The disease presents itself in many different ways that coincide with the common experience, “what did I come in here for…?” which makes it difficult to diagnose early on.

As each year comes to a close, we begin thinking about the possibilities for the new year and what we want to achieve or experience. One fulfilling and helpful practice to start the new year in the best way possible is a mindfulness practice.