As another year winds down, many of us start thinking about fresh starts and resolutions. But before you jump into planning for the year ahead, now is the perfect time to take stock of your health. A simple year-end review can help you catch potential issues early, stay organized, and enter January feeling prepared and empowered.

1. Review Your Annual Screenings and Preventive Tests

Preventive care is one of the most effective ways to protect long-term health. Take a moment to check whether you’re up to date on age- and risk-appropriate screenings. These often include blood pressure checks, cholesterol panels, diabetes screening, colonoscopy, mammograms, Pap tests, and bone density scans.
If you’re unsure what you need, reach out to your primary care provider, we can help create a personalized schedule based on your age, family history, and health conditions.

2. Make Sure Your Vaccinations Are Current

Vaccines don’t just protect you, they protect your loved ones and your community. Though it is best to get the influenza vaccine in October, it is never too late to get protected. The flu can be devastating, and infections resulted in hospitalizations in almost 400 thousand people just last year.  Depending on your age and health status, you might also need vaccines for shingles, pneumonia, tetanus, or RSV. If you’re traveling soon, your physician can advise you on additional immunizations.

3. Take Inventory of Your Medications

The end of the year is a great time to review your medication list, both prescription and over-the-counter. Ask yourself:

• Are you taking everything as prescribed?
• Have you experienced side effects?
• Are you still taking medications you no longer need?
  Bring your full list to your next appointment so we can make sure your treatments are safe, effective, and necessary. Don’t forget to check expiration dates and safely dispose of old medications.

4. Update Your Health Information

Life changes quickly, and your medical record should reflect that. Make sure your care team has your current contact information, emergency contacts, insurance details, and any updates to your family medical history. A new diagnosis among close relatives can change your screening recommendations. This is also a smart time to review advance directives or consider completing them if you haven’t already.

5. Look Back at Your Lifestyle Habits

Year-end reflections aren’t just about what needs fixed, they’re about what’s working. Celebrate the progress you’ve made, whether it was eating more vegetables, walking regularly, drinking more water, or quitting smoking.
Then, consider where you’d like to improve. Small, realistic goals, like adding a 10-minute walk to your morning routine or cooking at home twice a week, are far more sustainable than sweeping resolutions.

6. Schedule Your Annual Wellness Visit

If you haven’t had your yearly check-up, now is a good time to schedule it. Annual visits are about prevention, conversation, and long-term planning, not just addressing problems. It’s your chance to talk openly about sleep, stress, mood changes, chronic conditions, or any questions you’ve put on the back burner.

7. Prioritize Your Mental and Emotional Health

The holiday season can be joyful, but it can also bring stress, grief, and exhaustion. Take time to check in with yourself. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Not sleeping well? Struggling to enjoy things you normally love? Emotional health is a critical part of overall wellness, and your primary care provider can help connect you with counseling, resources, and support.

Emily Snell, D.O., is a second-year resident with the UPMC Williamsport Family Medicine Residency. She sees patients at 740 High Street, Suite 4001, Williamsport. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Snell, call 570-318-7896. For more information, visit UPMC.com/FamilyMedicineResidencyNCPA.