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Have you ever wondered what a medical professional would recommend as a New Year鈥檚 resolution?

When the clock strikes midnight and ushers in January 1, many celebrate by setting resolutions and goals to be pursued in the 364 days ahead. Indeed, the start of a new year can be an opportunity to take on new challenges, make changes and incorporate activities that can be beneficial to our overall well-being.

In the spirit of the season, we asked our physicians 鈥� specialists in psychiatry, emergency medicine, primary care and urology 鈥� to share the resolutions they recommend based on their expertise. If you鈥檙e still undecided on your New Year鈥檚 resolutions, here are a few doctor-approved goals to consider.

1. Embrace the power of a smile.

What power lies behind a smile? It鈥檚 a question that has launched discussions of every ilk, from the philosophical to the scientific and beyond. In fact, the science of (and body language) is a field that drives a wide spectrum of scholarly debate and scientific research.

鈥淢y New Year鈥檚 resolution is to make a conscious effort to smile more,鈥� shares Armand Dorian, MD, an emergency medicine specialist and chief executive officer of .

And though the simple act of smiling may, at first glance, seem to be just that 鈥� simple 鈥� researchers have found evidence that points to both the physiological and psychological benefits of smiling.

A 2018 found that receiving certain smiles 鈥� in particular those designated as 鈥渞eward鈥� and 鈥渁ffiliation鈥� smiles 鈥� helped test subjects mitigate their response to stress and impacted heart rate and cortisol levels.

Even offered theories on the matter. In his work The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, he examined the links between our emotions and our expressions and theorized that not only do emotions impact expressions, but the reverse is also possible: Our expressions can influence our emotions. Stated more directly, smiling may help you feel better.

鈥淪miling helps in so many ways, including reducing stress, strengthening your immune system, decreasing your blood pressure, making you look better, giving you confidence, creating resilience to daily challenges, and finally, it is contagious,鈥� adds Dr. Dorian, echoing the general findings about the positive impact of turning a frown upside down.

2. Say goodbye to procrastination (today, not tomorrow).

The demands of modern living can make the siren song of procrastination all the more enticing. In fact, according to several surveys on the subject, of adults admit to procrastinating at one time or another.

Although the root causes behind procrastination remain a subject of debate among researchers, most agree that the end result is generally the same: The short-lived relief of avoiding an assignment, chore or goal can be quickly overshadowed by the added anxiety, stress, pressure and guilt procrastination can add to our lives.

Steven Siegel, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist with 喵咪社区, suggests we also evaluate what procrastination may be siphoning from our lives.

鈥淧rocrastinating may result in missed opportunities to do something important for yourself and for others,鈥� Dr. Siegel explains.

So, if you鈥檙e eager to carpe diem in the new year, 鈥渢ry not to leave for tomorrow whatever can be done today,鈥� he adds.

3. Schedule your annual exam.

Although scheduling an annual medical checkup may seem too easy to be a bona fide resolution, making your health and general well-being a priority is a goal worth considering.

鈥淲e should make a resolution this year to get in our annual physical or wellness visit and complete our appropriate cancer screenings,鈥� advises Carolyn Kaloostian, MD, MPH, a family medicine and geriatric medicine specialist with Keck Medicine.

While a yearly general checkup is pretty standard for people of all ages, the need for more specialized screenings and examinations may be based on several factors, including age, gender and family history. Your primary care provider can help you figure out what additional health screenings you may need.

In tandem with placing a premium on getting an annual exam, Dr. Kaloostian also highlights the importance of 鈥渋ncreasing joyous physical activity and embracing our loved ones, while we can.鈥�

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