Steubenville, Ohio—December 29, 2025– As the calendar turns to a new year, many area residents feel the pressure to overhaul their lifestyles overnight. However, Trinity Health System, a part of CommonSpirit Health, is encouraging the community to trade “all-or-nothing” thinking for a more compassionate, incremental approach to wellness.
According to health experts, the reason many New Year’s resolutions fail is that they are often too ambitious or restrictive. By focusing on small, sustainable shifts in daily habits, individuals can achieve significant improvements in their long-term physical and mental well-being.
“Forget perfection and embrace progress,” Wendy Ralston, director of Nursing Operations & Behavioral Health Services at Trinity Health System, said. “It’s the small, consistent actions we take every single day that truly define our journey to wellness, not the occasional heroic effort. Trying to do everything at once often leads to burnout and giving up. The magic of incremental change lies in its sustainability- small, consistent steps are the secret to building habits that stick, not just for a week, but for a lifetime making lasting healthy habits feel achievable and not overwhelming.”
To help our community find success in the coming year, Trinity Health System and CommonSpirit Health offer the following evidence-based tips:
- Start with a Clinical Baseline: Before beginning a new regimen, visit your primary care provider. The new year is an ideal time to check “numbers that matter,” such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol.
- Reframe “Exercise” as Movement: Physical activity doesn’t have to happen in a gym. Just 10 to 15 minutes of daily movement—like taking the stairs, parking further away, or a short walk—can break the cycle of sedentary behavior.
- Focus on Nutritional Additions, Not Just Restrictions: Instead of cutting everything out, try adding more fiber-rich foods like non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and beans. Increasing fiber intake can improve cholesterol and reduce the risk of diabetes.
- Prioritize Home-Cooked Meals: Research shows that individuals who eat five or more home-cooked meals per week are 28 percent less likely to be overweight. Start small by committing to preparing just one meal a day at home.
- Nurture Your Mental Well-being: Stress management is a vital pillar of health. Dedicating just five minutes a day to a stress-reducing activity—whether that is prayer, meditation, or spending time with a pet—can have a profound impact.
Ralston emphasizes that the behavioral health aspect of these resolutions is just as important as the physical.
“Managing stress, protecting our mental health, and maintaining resolve often comes down to recognizing that progress isn’t linear. There will be tough days, but consistently returning to your small, achievable habits, even imperfectly, is critical to navigating life’s challenges without derailing your entire wellness journey,” Ralston said. “Remember that every day is a new opportunity to make a small, positive choice. Don’t let a stumble turn into a fall; simply acknowledge it. Reset, and keep moving forward with kindness to yourself.”
For more information on primary care services or to schedule a wellness check-up, please visit www.trinityhealth.com.
If you would like to interview Wendy Ralston on this topic or a related behavioral-health topic for your broadcast or publication, please contact Laurie Labishak using the information in the header of this press release.
