Tips to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions
As the new year is in full swing and February is upon us, how many of us can say that we have already given up or are breaking some of the New Year’s resolutions we just made a few short weeks ago?
It is important that we remember that the New Year is a time of reflection, self-observance, possibility, opportunity and, most importantly, self-care. We as individuals need to always care about ourselves, not just in the month of January or the Holiday period.
As we settle into our day-to-day routines, it becomes easy for us to forget about the needs we have as individuals. But we cannot allow ourselves to do this. Our mental health must remain a focal point throughout the year, not just in the beginning or when something is going wrong for us.
This means much more than just thinking positively; rather, it means living in a complete, positive manner.
Here a few tips that can not only help us keep our New Year’s resolutions, but feel better about who we are on a day-to-day basis:
- I will commit myself to being physically active each day. Studies demonstrate there is a link between mental and physical health.
- I will resolve to be mentally healthy throughout the year. While there is still a stigma associated with seeking the aid of mental health professionals in the U.S., seeking out the assistance of a certified professional to sort through our mental and emotional baggage is one of the healthiest things we can do.
- I will learn to relax and enjoy life. Commit yourself to carving out some time each day to “shutting down” and doing something for yourself that helps you rest and recharge your mental and emotional batteries.
- Diligently speak nicely about yourself and treat yourself with respect. All good things begin from within, and a positive outlook on ourselves is a key to attracting more positivity into our lives.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. Remind yourself daily that as a human, you will make mistakes or miss goals, and that is okay. What is important is going forward in these situations in a positive manner.
- Stay mindful and in the moment. Don’t dwell too much on the past or spend too much time fixating on the future. Remember to live in the here and now and enjoy all that life has to offer.
- Act instead of reacting. Rather than allowing yourself to get caught up in reacting to the actions of others that push your buttons, be prepared with a mental list of disarming statements to counteract the negative statements of others.
- Do not allow yourself to be defined by a label. Instead of thinking and speaking of yourself as being overweight, anxious, depressed, etc.… say instead “I have depression and today I will exercise to help manage that.”
- I will strive to become the person I want to be. View life as a journey full of adventures rather than a series of obstacles you have to overcome. Enjoy the ride that life is, rather than focusing on the bumps in the road.
If you or a loved one needs help, Greater Family Health offers Behavioral Health/Psychiatry and Substance Use Disorder services. Please call 844-599-3700 to learn more.
References:
https://www.cphins.com/9-mental-health-resolutions-for-the-new-year/
https://www.pca-nwa.com/new-years-resolutions-for-mental-health/
