New year, new you: Local voices share thoughts on wellness for 2021

Across social media sites, pictures of smiling people and a variation of the caption "new year, new me," abound. But this new year celebration was unlike those of years past-there weren't big parties or big crowds, instead, most celebrations were more low key. Despite the change in how we celebrate the new year, people are still promising themselves a better future.

Sometimes that's by resolving to be healthier, happier or maybe even just more self-aware. As Joanne Neville with the Southwest Acupuncture College put it, "I think people are most likely to set good intentions for the new year which are very often in the realm of how to live a healthier and happier life, and our services can really play a big role in working toward those goals."

For Neville, her way of achieving those goals primarily lies within the practice of self care, and it's not all bubble baths and wine nights. She said it's "crucial to find the balance between everyday stresses and the things that nourish" your mind, body and soul. This balance can be done through sleeping enough, getting that workout in and seeking out resources like those found at the acupuncture college.

It's tough to succeed with those resolutions without "buy in" into these changes. It is something that family nurse practitioner Tracy Shulsinger knows all too well.

"People typically come in [to the Healing Collective] because they are ready to do the work. But if people aren't ready to make some changes, that's a problem," said Shulsinger. She explained that one way to determine if you're ready for change is to do a mental check in.

"Asking 'where I'm at, where do I want to be, what's something simple I can start with?' It's good to start with something simple because it helps people feel confident that they can do it and build on that."

Determining those small goals and building on them is important and helpful, because they can extend beyond the common, bigger goals of being happier and healthier. The technique is also helpful in everyday life as well.

For Niwot Vision's Dr. Amy Chang, she hopes to provide more than just simple eye care to her patients. Throughout the past 10 years, she has specialized in treating patients with traumatic injuries and just recently relocated to Niwot. She wants to "provide holistic care,... care  that looks more deeply than just if you're seeing 20/20, really looking at how vision affects your ability to do everyday life."

She too reiterated the importance of checking in with oneself, but also with others too. "As we're approaching eight, nine months with COVID, we want to check in with ourselves with mental health," Chang said. "Isolation and the stress from COVID can manifest in different ways. In terms of visual health, it's important for people to know that as the weather gets colder, the heater is on, eyes tend to get dry, using a humidifier, and even though it's winter, the sun is really strong."

Her personal "life hack" for wellness, beyond simply checking in with local resources, is to have some daily quiet time in the morning to both reflect and develop a positive mindset for the rest of the day.

This positive attitude is something also shared by the staff at Left Hand Animal Hospital (LHAH). "While we work – we have FUN! Happy staff translates to happy clients and pets," said veterinarian and co-owner Nancy Bureau. "Animals can sense more than we are aware and a happy staff helps to calm our patients and make the experience better overall."

LHAH has moved its care to concierge medicine rather than having pets and their pet parents come to their building. Despite that, Dr. Bureau said that she and the team are still available and excited to answer any and all questions the community might have.

Her advice, to pets and their people is to "stay slim, fit and strong. Get outside every day to enjoy the day."