As the holidays come to an end and the beginning of a new year dawns on us, we often start to prepare our New Year’s resolutions.
New Year’s resolutions often include goals like reading more, reaching 10,000 steps a day, or adopting healthier eating habits. However, many resolutions don’t last long, mainly because of setting unrealistic goals. UAB Medicine reports that only 8% of people who make New Year’s resolutions achieve them.
Instead of creating big goals, it can be helpful to start with smaller, more manageable steps that help you accomplish your overarching intention. Meeting these milestones can help you feel successful and motivate you to continue, and by reaching these smaller goals over time, you can eventually turn your life-changing resolutions into a reality.
The past year has been a challenging one for many people, so goals surrounding mental health and happiness have become popular resolutions for 2024. If you’re looking for attainable goals to set for the upcoming year, these resolutions can put you on the path to a mentally happy and healthy future – below are some suggestions of realistic resolutions that can give us ideas on what to plan for in the new year!
1. Join a Group
By joining a new group, you are simultaneously meeting new people and participating in something that you enjoy. Both activities are good ways to improve mental health. Some group settings can include local sports teams, book clubs, walking groups or pottery classes.
2. Volunteer
Finding a cause to donate your time to can be very rewarding. Volunteering is a great way to feel good and give back at the same time.
3. Improve Sleep Habits
Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the fundamental ways to ensure we feel our best. Focusing on getting enough hours of quality sleep can help improve your mood and mental health. Start exploring ways to do this whether it be – being offline the hour before bed, listening to rain sounds, or creating a manageable bedtime routine that you can look forward to.
4. Spend Time with Loved Ones
Spending more time with people who make us feel safe and loved can be a mood booster. Make sure to be intentional with who you are spending time with, set aside some quality time with those who make you feel energized and have your best interests at heart.
5. Clean Out
Decluttering is a great way to start the new year fresh. A Psychology Today study shows that decluttering may help with depression, unhealthy cravings, or fatigue. Many people find the most pronounced positive effect of decluttering to be a feeling of lightness and increased productivity. Gather up unused items and donate them to a local organization to help those in need and free up space in your home.
6. Get Away
A change of scenery can help improve your state of mind if you are feeling stuck or stressed out. Committing to time away for yourself, even if it is a “staycation” at home, will help you recharge and refocus.
7. Practice Mindfulness
Creating a mindfulness practice can greatly reduce stress and anxiety and can improve overall physical health. Setting up time for yourself to check in and feel your emotions is important. This can include meditating for 5 minutes, journaling, and practicing breathing techniques.
8. Self-Care
Self-care focuses on prioritizing your mental and physical health so that burnout does not happen. Self-care is beneficial to overall wellness and can include making yourself a fun meal, going for a long walk somewhere new, or shutting your phone off before an at home spa night.
9. Regular Exercise
Regular exercise can help reduce stress, boost self-esteem, improve sleep and lessen depression and anxiety. This activity doesn’t have to be intense either. Be mindful of how your body feels and of what you wants to do. Walking, taking a dance class, or going for a hike are some favorable options.
10. Learn to Say “No”
Saying “no” is an important skill to learn but it can be tricky. Try to be confident when saying “no” and feel good about your decision. If it’s not something you want to do, then that’s reason enough. By limiting the commitments, you say “yes” to, you can better utilize your time for things you enjoy. You can do it!
11. Ask for Help
Asking for help when you need it can greatly reduce the amount of stress you have when dealing with big tasks. We know you can do it all, but it doesn’t mean you have to.
12. Meditate
Regular meditation can improve overall health. It has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and improve blood pressure, and it can even help reduce the urge to smoke. Seek a meditation method that works best with you and your schedule.
13. Hydrate
Dehydration can cause you to experience headaches, agitation, and tiredness. To help combat dehydration, make sure to drink enough water every day to stay properly hydrated and healthy.
14. Reduce Screen Time
Too much screen time can affect your mental health. Cell phones, TVs and video games can cause strain on the eyes and can lead to long-term mental health complications like depression and anxiety. Reduce screen time to help reduce these negative side effects and create boundaries with your devices.
15. Embrace Change
Although change can feel intimidating, it can lead to wonderful new possibilities. Learning to embrace change instead of fearing it will help transitions feel more exciting and less stressful.
16. Practice Gratitude
It can be easy to hold on to things that you feel aren’t going right in life. However, focusing on and having gratitude for the good things in your life can change your overall perspective from negative to positive. Start by thinking of one thing you’re grateful for a day and see how your thoughts start to shift.
17. Treat Yourself
Treating yourself to a special item or experience can act as a positive reinforcement for hard work and help motivate you to keep pushing toward your next goal. You’re allowed to reward yourself for small or big accomplishments. Repeat after me, “I am worth celebrating!”
Your Mental Health Matters
If you’re looking for an easy way to access tools that can help support your New Year’s resolutions, Centered Health has a wide variety of helpful services – it’s time to prioritize your mental health!
Beachside Teen Treatment Center and Hillcrest Adolescent Center offer inpatient resources for teens ages 12-17.
Los Angeles Outpatient Center and The Meadowglade offer inpatient and outpatient resources for adults 18+.
Reach out today at CenteredHealth.com to start a new healthy journey going into the new year.
