It may seem cliché to create a list of New Year’s resolutions, but there’s a reason it’s so popular … especially for retirees (and pre-retirees). The beginning of a new year is a great time to think about where you want to go in the months ahead — and then create a plan to take you there.

Chances are, staying healthy and continuing to be financially independent are at the top of your wish list.

If that’s the case, here’s a list of resolutions every retiree should consider stealing:

1. Eat colorfully

There’s a simple trick to making sure you’re getting a broad spectrum of nutrients — eat a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables. The color of fruits and vegetables is often indicative of what kinds of vitamins and minerals they contain.

Some health experts recommend eating three different colors of fruits and/or vegetables at every meal. Look for deep reds, oranges, greens, yellows, blues, whites and purples.

2. Drink more water

There are a lot of benefits to drinking water. Staying hydrated helps your body digest food, absorb nutrients, remove waste and keep your joints healthy.

The problem is, as we age our sense of thirst can become dulled and the medication we take may contribute to dehydration. That’s why it’s important to make it a priority to drink more water.

However, it’s important to note that some people may be directed by a physician to limit what they drink. If that’s the case with you, consult your doctor to find out how much you should drink daily.

Some ways to stay hydrated throughout the day:

• Invest in a good, easy-to-clean, easy-to-refill water bottle, and carry it with you.
• When you take a pill, drink an entire glass of water. Don’t just take a sip.
• Have a full glass of water with every meal.
• Don’t limit your water intake just because you have urinary problems (unless a doctor tells you otherwise). Seek other solutions instead.

3. Shrink your (alcoholic) drinkware

As you know, alcohol consumption can lead to a host of problems — especially if it’s not done in moderation. It can lead to complications with medication, adversely affect blood sugar levels, and make you more disoriented or forgetful.

But there are some ways to trick yourself into drinking less, and one of the best ways is to drink from smaller glasses.

If you can force yourself to only have one or two drinks — while taking those drinks from smaller glasses — you’ll reduce your alcohol intake without feeling like you’re missing out.

4. Remove one trip hazard every month

Aging in place and staying in your home throughout retirement requires spotting safety hazards and removing them.

Make it a point to seek out at least one trip and/or fall hazard at your home each month, and fix it. This will prevent procrastinating when you spot hazards, and it’ll keep your pathways free of clutter — thus, reducing the likelihood of injury.

5. Exercise daily

The amount of exercise you should do greatly depends on your health. So you’ll want to consult your doctor to find out how much exercise you should do.

But, chances are, you could benefit from some form of daily exercise — even if it’s just for a few minutes.

This is obviously a staple of most New Year’s resolution lists, but here’s the key to sticking to this:

Find something you enjoy doing.

If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t stick to it.

Some ideas:

• Go for a walk (with a friend, if possible).
• Ride a stationary bike.
• Go to an indoor pool (you don’t have to swim, you could just walk through the water).
• Dance.

Another way to stick to this resolution is to change things up. Don’t do the same exercise every day or you’ll get bored with it. Plus, by doing different exercises, you work different muscle groups.

6. Perform one brain teaser a day

As important as physical activity is, brain activity is equally important. Keeping your mind sharp requires regular stimulation. So challenge yourself to give your brain a workout every day.

Some of the best — and easiest — ways to do this include:

• Crossword puzzles.
• Sudoku.
• Teaching yourself a subject you don’t already know.
• Learning a new language.

Here are some other fun mental exercises for seniors.

7. Pay off debt

High-interest debt can put a big dent in your long-term finances.

Depending on how much your investments are making, it may make more sense to take some of those investments and pay off high-interest debt.

To determine the best approach to take, it can pay to speak to a financial adviser — which brings us to our next resolution …

8. Meet with a financial adviser

If it’s been a few years since you’ve evaluated your finances, a visit with a financial adviser could be greatly beneficial — and money well spent.

You don’t have to make it a regular occurrence if you don’t want to. You could just schedule one or two financial planning sessions to make sure your finances can take you where you want to go in life.

Investments change, markets change, goals change and needs change. As a result, it’s wise to stop and re-evaluate your financial situation from time to time.

9. Review investment fees

Investments carry fees — and high fees, which are often easy to overlook, can significantly cut into your nest egg. As a result, investors want to look at their portfolios for things like hidden fees, as well as trading and sales costs.

If some fees/costs seem higher than others, talk to the financial institution or your broker to see if there’s a reason the fee/cost is high or if there’s a lower-cost investment option available.

10. Check your credit

Fraud and identity theft are rampant these days. Thankfully, there are a growing number resources available to you to help you determine whether you’ve been a victim of fraud or theft.

In fact, many credit card companies now offer free credit monitoring services. There are also several free credit reports available online. Just be weary of signing up for any paid services you don’t want.

The Federal Trade Commission says each of the major nationwide credit reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — is required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, if you request one, once every 12 months.

It’s wise to check your credit report several times a year to make sure there aren’t any inaccuracies on the report, and to make sure no one has opened any accounts under your name without your permission.