The new year is a time for renewal and the perfect opportunity to alter past habits. Here are 10 pointers from high-profile experts in Israel, who suggest you say goodbye to elements in your life that are holding you back from doing what you’ve wanted to do for years.

1) Regular checkups are integral to a new lifestyle.

2) Ensuring against colon/rectal cancer by undergoing a colonoscopy every ten years is a great idea. Of course, you don’t really need to do that until you hit the wizened age of 50.

3) Regular checkups, perhaps more than any of the other items here, can be a valuable method of meeting potential health issues head on.

4) Something as simple as washing your hands with soap can go a long way as well.

5) Perhaps just as important is the flu vaccination. Despite negative opinion of the vaccination procedure, it’s safe to use, does not cause heart attacks and is in fact given to millions of people across the world.

6) Back injury can strike when you least expect it. Simply don’t lift with your back; lift with your knees when moving heavy loads instead.

Lastly, if pain does come, don’t ignore it. The only way you’re going to know if something is wrong is through pain; headaches might indicate another problem, possibly highlighting damage to the brain or eyes.