Being proactive about your health is an important part of ensuring better health outcomes over the short and long term. One of the best ways to stay proactive is by participating in an annual wellness exam. Traditionally, having an annual physical has become the norm for many people, but a standard physical exam tends to focus only on a snapshot of your overall health at a given time. An annual wellness exam, on the other hand, is designed to be a broader, more forward-looking health evaluation.