The new year is a perfect time for reflecting, setting goals and thinking intentionally about how you want your life to look. It’s a popular time of year for setting countless New Year’s resolutions, from physical health goals to professional aspirations. And for many of us, mental health resolutions are top of mind as we envision our year ahead. Want to prioritize your mental health this year?
Take Small Steps
If you’ve ever set a resolution on January 1, only to lose traction before Valentine’s Day, you’re not alone: as many of 80% of us report giving up on resolutions. The solution? Take small steps.
find your focus
Where should you start when it comes to mental health goal setting? Meditation, mindfulness, relationship-building, boundaries, counseling or therapy, work-life balance. . . we’ve hardly scratched the surface! Because you can take countless directions to strengthen your mental health, finding your focus is critical.
De-Stigmatize Mental Health
While great strides have been made in recent years, an unfortunate stigma still surrounds mental health. People often diminish their mental health needs because of fear of being treated differently, or what family, friends or colleagues will think. Sadly, more than half of people with mental illness don’t get the support they need. So to prioritize mental health this year, start talking about it. If each of us would practice this mental health tip, the change could be profound.
Build Healthy Habits into Your Routine
Healthy habits — like exercise, eating nutritious meals or getting more sleep — can greatly impact your mental health. But sometimes, the demands of everyday life get in the way of our progress.
Don’t Wait for a Crisis
As the classic saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Even if you’re not experiencing a mental health crisis, you’re still worthy of achieving your mental health goals. If you review your daily life and discover a decline in what’s normal or healthy for you, taking steps toward positive change can be beneficial.
Begin Your Therapy Journey
We can do many things on our own to improve our mental health. But the professional help of a therapist, counselor or psychiatrist can often be necessary. Have you or someone you love identified the need for support? Make this the year you get the help you need. Finding help often starts with calling your insurance provider to learn more about your coverage. If your insurance doesn’t include mental health benefits, or if you’re uninsured, don’t let that stop you, as some therapists offer sliding scales and charge fees based on your family’s income.
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