Four Ways to Boost Your Mental Wellness For The Upcoming Year

Cheers to the New Year!

At the beginning of each new year, people frequently adopt positive mentalities and set ambitious new objectives for themselves. However, by the end of the year, only a small percentage of the resolutions that so many of us made with such enthusiasm have been kept. From raging pandemics to killer insects, the first two years of the 2020s have been packed with upheaval and little time to recuperate from it. Personally, I realized how short life is, and how valuable every second we have is. We don’t have time to waste by putting things off for tomorrow. Though it’s undoubtedly been difficult, we made it! This year, let’s stop the excuses and actively work toward fulfilling our potential.

Key Points:

The past two years have been difficult. As this new year approaches, we should be thinking about how to capitalize on our fresh start.

The first step to achieving your goals this year is to establish and maintain mental wellness.

Once you are able to cultivate a healthy mental state, other facets of your life will inevitably flourish.

Four Tips to Boost Your Mental Wellness

Establishing and maintaining your mental wellness is the first step in attaining the goals you set for yourself this year. Cultivating a positive mental space is always the first step toward victory; once you’ve accomplished this, the rest of your life is almost certain to get better. There are many different ways to begin your mental health awareness journey, but I’ve found the following four tips have worked best for me:

1) Get in Therapy.

The first and perhaps most surefire way to ensure that you remain on the straight and narrow is to get into therapy. Think of your therapist not as a disciplinarian or an intrusive figure; rather, you should consider them to be an accountability partner. You don’t need to have a mental illness to benefit from therapy. Whether you do have a mental issue or you’re just looking for some guidance, therapy will help equip you with the tools you need to start your new year off right.

2) Practice Planning.

The best method to ensure that you fulfill your goals this year is to create and adhere to a plan. Though you cannot control everything, developing good planning habits will benefit you immensely as you strive to increase your productivity. As a student, there’s nothing like a good routine to keep yourself on track with your goals. Personally, I utilize calendars, reminders, to-do lists, budgets, and itineraries to keep myself honest and responsible. Goal achievement is all about accountability, so give yourself a structured schedule to promote that.

3) Stay Active, Eat Healthy.

Your mental and physical health go hand in hand. You do not need to be a gym rat, but you should make an effort to put in at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day. Additionally, the food you eat plays a major role in how much energy your brain has to expend to keep your body working. For increased clear mindedness, be sure to eat healthily and take your vitamins.

4) Make Face to Face Connections.

Seeing friends and family face to face can be a great way to recharge before going into ‘beast mode’ this year. You may even want to consider making new connections with people who have similar goals. I typically find that it’s easier to stay on track when there are like-minded individuals around me. We push and motivate each other, and serve as accountability partners. You shouldn’t feel pressured to cut off existing friends, but be sure to prioritize relationships that enrich you in at least one way.

Keeping up with resolutions can be difficult, but with proper planning and self-discipline, you can do anything you put your mind to. This year, remember to give yourself grace and compassion as you fulfill your dreams.

Happy New Year!