According to a recent poll of the American Psychiatric
Association, nearly a third of Americans who set new year's resolutions
mentioned mental health as one of their top goals alongside things like
fitness, diet, and relationships. Among those making resolutions focused on
mental health this year:
- 49% plan to meditate.
- 35% plan to see a
therapist. - 31% plan to take a break
from social media - 26% plan to journal
What this tells us is that the stigma attached to mental
health is reducing. The pandemic and all the uncertainty in the world have
taught us that life is short and helped many to see the need to focus on the
urgent and important, rather than the trivial and mundane.
People are prioritizing this in their life. Self-care is
mental health and it’s a vital part of your overall wellbeing. The start of the
new year is a natural time to reflect on your life, but taking care of your
mental health doesn’t have to be tied to a holiday or particular time of year.
Whether a resolution or not, there are many things we can do in this new year
to help improve our lives.
Here are some possible mental health goals we can strive to
accomplish in 2024:
Table of Contents
Disconnect or set
boundaries from tech/social media
How often are we glued to our phones or react every time a
social media notification goes off? Being constantly connected to work and
those in our lives can be stressful and addictive. Set clear boundaries around
disconnecting. This could be turning off notifications on your phone at dinner,
turning off your device on Sundays, or even not accessing work emails on
vacation. You’re not a 24/7 receptionist. Give yourself and your mind a much-needed
break.
Get outside / walk in
nature
Taking mental health breaks in our daily hustle and bustle
is important to relieving stress, anxiety, and being more present. Connecting
with nature and breathing in fresh air has been proven lower stress and it’s
good for you!
Schedule some ‘you’
time
We tend to over schedule and overbook our lives, so let’s at
least make room for self-care. Block off your calendar for yourself, for
reading, meditation, journaling, quiet time. You’re worth it.
Reconnect with a
friend
Quality relationships lead to having a quality life. Close
friendships in particular improve our mental and overall wellbeing, but it
requires intentionality to maintain as we age. Send that text message, make the
phone call, set a date to get together. Make it happen. You won’t be
disappointed.
Seek professional
help to process feelings, emotions, and challenges
It’s okay to ask for help both when you need it and
regularly to handle all life throws at us. If you need to access mental health
services you can call the PromiseLine during normal business hours at
1-800-434-3000. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Maine Crisis
Line at 1-888-568-1112.
Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean you are required
to come up with a 10-point plan for a better you. It’s just another date on a
calendar. It’s important to be grateful for the life, body, mind, and self we
have. The unrealistic or high expectations we sometimes put on ourselves can
lead to stress, anxiety, and feeling defeated when you don’t mean certain
goals.
Celebrate your small wins. If there are certain areas you
want to focus more on, the key is to start small, make things more attainable.
When you start racking up small wins, it will fuel your motivation for
continued progress throughout your life. Start small and give yourself grace.
Justin Chenette is the
Senior Director of Public Relations & Advancement at Sweetser, which
provides evidence-based treatment, support and hope through a statewide network
of community-based mental health, recovery, and educational services. Learn more
at www.Sweetser.org.
