New Year, New Habits: Setting Health Goals While Receiving Biologic Therapy

The start of a new year often inspires reflection and goal-setting. For people receiving biologic therapy, this season can be a valuable opportunity to focus on habits that support treatment by building small, sustainable routines that promote overall well-being, rather than striving for perfection.

What to Know

• Biologic therapies work best when taken consistently and as prescribed.
• Daily habits like hydration, balanced nutrition, and gentle movement can support overall health during treatment.
• Stress levels and sleep quality can influence how symptoms are experienced.
• Simple symptom and sleep tracking help identify patterns over time.
• Staying organized with appointments and medications supports continuity of care.
• Clear communication with your healthcare team helps ensure treatment stays on track.

Hydration and Nutrition: Supporting Your Body During Treatment

Staying well hydrated supports circulation, digestion, and energy levels, which can be especially important for individuals managing fatigue or treatment-related side effects.

Simple strategies, such as keeping a reusable water bottle nearby, can make consistent hydration easier throughout the day.

Nutrition does not need to be complicated or restrictive. A balanced approach that includes adequate protein, fiber, healthy fats, and a variety of fruits and vegetables helps support tissue repair, gut health, and overall resilience.

Regular meals may also help stabilize energy levels. Any significant dietary changes or supplements should always be discussed with your healthcare team to ensure they are appropriate alongside biologic therapy.

Movement: Gentle Activity That Works with Your Energy Levels

Physical activity can feel challenging when living with a chronic condition, but movement does not have to be intense to be beneficial.

Gentle activities such as walking, stretching, yoga, or light mobility exercises help maintain joint flexibility, circulation, and mood.

The key is listening to your body. Some days may allow more movement, while others may require rest—especially on infusion or injection days.

Setting realistic goals, such as short walks or brief stretching sessions, helps make movement a supportive habit rather than a source of pressure.

Stress Management and Sleep: Often Overlooked, Highly Impactful

Chronic stress and poor sleep can influence how symptoms are experienced and how the body responds to treatment. Research suggests that inadequate sleep may heighten pain sensitivity, fatigue, and perceived inflammatory symptoms, making rest an essential part of overall symptom management during biologic therapy.

While stress is a normal part of life, developing simple stress-management tools can make a meaningful difference.

Techniques such as deep breathing, brief mindfulness exercises, or quiet routines before bed can signal to the body that it is time to rest. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and limiting evening screen time may also support better sleep quality. Even minor, consistent adjustments can improve rest and day-to-day well-being over time.

Tracking Symptoms and Sleep Patterns

Keeping track of how you feel day-to-day can provide valuable insights for both you and your healthcare team.

Tracking does not need to be detailed or time-consuming. A notes app, calendar, or simple journal can be used to record symptoms, energy levels, sleep quality, or any changes noticed after treatments.

Over time, these notes can reveal patterns that help guide care decisions. Rather than focusing on daily fluctuations, analyzing trends over weeks or months often yields the most valuable insights.

Staying Organized with Appointments and Medications

Consistency is essential to biologic therapy. Missed appointments or delayed doses can disrupt treatment plans and symptom control.

Simple organization tools, such as phone reminders, calendars, or medication logs, can help keep schedules manageable.

Life happens, and missed days may occur. The goal is not perfection, but to plan whenever possible and to communicate promptly if schedules need to change.

Communicating Clearly with Your Healthcare Team

Biologic therapy works best as a partnership. Sharing updates about symptoms, side effects, or lifestyle changes helps your healthcare team tailor care to your needs.

Preparing questions before appointments and bringing symptom notes can make conversations more productive.

If something feels different or concerning, reaching out early allows issues to be addressed before they become disruptive. Open communication supports safer, more effective long-term care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can lifestyle habits replace biologic therapy?

No. Lifestyle habits support overall health but do not replace biologic treatment. Biologics address specific disease pathways and should always be used as prescribed.

What should I track while on biologic therapy?

Many people track symptoms, energy levels, sleep quality, and how they feel before and after treatments. Keeping it simple helps maintain consistency.

Is it safe to exercise while receiving biologics?

In most cases, gentle to moderate activity is safe and beneficial. Always discuss exercise plans with your healthcare team, especially if symptoms change.

How can I remember appointments and medications?

Phone reminders, calendars, and medication logs are practical tools. Setting routines around dosing times can also help.

When should I contact my healthcare team?

Reach out if you notice new or worsening symptoms, side effects, or if appointments or doses are missed or delayed.

Moving Forward into the New Year

Health goals do not need to be dramatic to be meaningful. For individuals receiving biologic therapy, small, consistent habits, supported by organization and communication, can make day-to-day treatment feel more manageable.

Rather than focusing on short-term resolutions, prioritizing steady, sustainable routines allows progress to build over time. View this New Year as an opportunity to build long-term support rather than immediate change, strengthening your well-being alongside ongoing care.