The New Year is a great time to make resolutions about improving your health and wellness, but as we all know, it can be really tough to stick to your resolutions, especially when it’s January and it’s cold outside. But now that spring is here, perhaps it’s a good chance to revisit some of the top health and wellness trends for 2012 and see how these fit into your lifestyle for the rest of the year.

According to a study from the Values Institute at DGWB in Santa Ana, California, these are the top 5 consumer health trends for 2012. Even though 2012 is already 1/3 of the way over, it’s not too late to make big changes in your lifestyle, diet, health and wellness.

Here are the top 5 consumer health trends. How do these impact your health and lifestyle choices?

1. Seeking new sources of energy (drinks) and supplements: Energy drinks have become a popular way for people to increase their focus and sharpen their mental performance at work or at school – but health-focused consumers are also going to look for more natural sources of energy such as tea (especially green tea) and whole grains. The way we eat and drink affects the way we feel in numerous ways.
2. Getting more sleep: As we’ve written before, Americans don’t get enough sleep. Studies have shown that 76 percent of Americans want to improve their health by getting more sleep, and this is especially important for women. Two-thirds of women suffer from sleep deprivation. Not getting enough sleep also leads to higher risk of many ailments and health problems such as depression, anxiety, weight gain and high blood pressure.
3. Adopting a “Flexitarian” diet: We’ve written before about how Americans are eating less meat, not only for health reasons but also to save money on their food budgets. More Americans are becoming “flexitarians,” which means that they are eating less meat but without taking the full leap of becoming vegetarians.
4. Making wellness into a game: We’ve written before about how digital apps like RunKeeper can help you make your daily exercise routine into a “game” that can be shared with your friends on social media. Using digital devices and apps to create accountability for health and wellness goals is another of the big health trends for 2012. No matter what health goals you might have, whether it’s exercising more, quitting smoking or losing weight, chances are that “there’s an app for that.”
5. Smartphones become “doctorphones:” Instead of having to go to the doctor’s office for routine checkups and monitoring, smartphones are going to keep getting smarter at using health-specific apps to keep track of people’s health, such as blood pressure and other important medical information. If you have a chronic health condition, it will become easier to share your medical status with your medical care providers.

Are you ready to make the most of the rest of 2012? Whether you want to lose weight, eat better or just get more shut-eye, chances are there are many ways to make a positive difference in your health. And there are more tools, information and resources available online than ever before to help you make informed decisions. Good luck, and here’s to your health for the rest of 2012!