New Year’s resolutions are a great way to make personal improvements while taking stock of your life. In 2024, we even get an extra day to achieve our resolutions since it’s a leap year, meaning there’s a February 29th on our calendars.

Leap years are needed because one year is not exactly 365 days long. It takes the Earth a little longer than a year to travel around the sun — 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes to be exact. That’s too confusing for a calendar, so we add a day every four years to catch up in time.

So, it seems that 2024 offers us more opportunities to have fun, a little more time to work on our annual resolutions to improve ourselves and a chance to live life to the fullest as best we can. Some resolutions are achieved; others are not.

In past years, I often suggested 10-12 resolutions, but my 2024 list to Best Times readers only has five resolutions (that I hope are achievable).

1. Exercise more: Staying active is not just the key to healthy aging. Research indicates it may be the key to a longer life. You don’t have to run a marathon, just commit to at least 10 minutes of exercise daily. Johnson County’s 50 Plus Department offers strength training, yoga, pickleball and other classes that can make a difference in your health, happiness and lifespan. A new study by the American Heart Association found that walking an additional 500 steps, or about one-quarter of a mile, per day was associated with a 14% lower risk of heart disease, stroke or heart failure.

2. Make better dietary choices: With aging, we need to consume fewer calories but more nutrients. We also don’t have to eat alone. The Johnson County Area Agency on Aging has seven congregate nutrition locations. The popular CHAMPSS program at the Johnson County Department of Aging and Human Services annually attracts hundreds of aging adults and couples at local Hy-Vee grocery stores.

3. Maintain a positive mindset: We have all heard the old saying, “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” As simple as it sounds, it’s true! Positive thinking doesn’t mean wearing rose-colored glasses all the time or ignoring difficult feelings. Rather, it means stressing less about the things you cannot change, focusing on those you can, and, all the while, remembering what is good in life.

4. Keep an active mind: Regularly challenging your brain is one of the best ways to stay mentally sharp in aging. It’s also one of the best ways to reduce your risk of memory loss or developing dementia. Simple things, such as reading daily, doing crosswords or jigsaw puzzles, or joining a book club, are great and fun ways to ensure your body’s most important muscle receives an adequate workout.

5. Become more tech savvy: OK, so maybe tech-savvy is a stretch, but learn how to use the computer. You can email family and friends, join a social network, shop online and pay bills, and so much more. You can also sign up to receive the digital Best Times magazine a week ahead of the printed magazine. See info on page 3.

We can make more efforts to live by the Golden Rule in dealing with others as best we can whenever we can.

We can embrace genuine good will, trust, respect, honesty, acceptance, integrity and humility – many of which are missing, in whole or in part, nowadays. The truth remains that life isn’t always fair, but it’s so very precious if we can live it to its fullest as best as we can within our world and with others.

We can give back, with donations and time as volunteers, especially to the many public services and programs of Johnson County Government or assisting at local nonprofit agencies.

We can register to vote and exercise our right to vote in the upcoming 2024 elections.

So, it seems that 2024 offers us more opportunities to have fun and a little more time to work on our resolutions to improve ourselves at becoming or remaining healthy and fit – mentally, physically and emotionally. We can practice patience and express gratitude for the good things we have.

Like most things in life, the new year is what we make it. In 2024, we get an extra day to do what’s right in our lives. It’s a good leap to take all year long.