New Year’s Resolutions for Your Mental Health

2023 is finally here, and what better way to mark it than by making some New Year's resolutions?

Looking for some New Year's resolutions for 2023? Maybe this is the year to give more priority to your mental health. Because, think about it, there's nothing more important than putting your health first. When your physical and mental health is intact, you have the capacity to achieve all the wonderful things life has to offer!

Here are some incredible mental health resolutions to try this year:

1. Practicing self-care
2. Cutting back on drugs and alcohol use
3. Increasing exercise
4. Improving nutrition
5. Setting boundaries
6. Spending more time with loved ones
7. Finally getting help for that mental health issue
8. Reducing screen time and social media
9. Taking a break from anything that's negatively impacting your health.

In fact, most New Year resolutions you make will have an impact on your mental health. You just have to know what’s beneficial in the long run and go for it -- the right way!

I say "the right way" because many people make New Year resolutions but forget all about it barely two weeks into the year. Of course, this may not be the first time you'd be making these mental health resolutions, but here we are again. Chances are you just haven't been doing it the right way, so sticking to it becomes difficult.

How to stick to your New Year's resolution

Here are some tips and tricks to help you stay committed to your mental health resolutions this year:

1.       Set goals and targets

Okay, let's face it; it's not enough to just say," I want to start exercising more this year," or "I want to prioritize self-care." To stick to your New Year resolutions, set goals for yourself, so you have a target in sight that you're walking towards. For example, set a fixed exercise or self-care routine. If you want to cut back on alcohol, set a limit of 2-3 bottles a week if you have been on 10 the last year.

Have a physical or digital to-do list of things you must do (or not do) to ensure you're really practicing your resolution.

2.       Journal

There's a reason writing is beneficial for learning; writing boosts retention. When you write something, you tend to remember it more than when you only think or speak about it. A big idea may cross your mind (just like a New Year’s resolution), but you may forget all about it if you're not visualizing it. So consider journaling your New Year's resolution and hanging it somewhere you can always see it.

3.       Have someone to stay accountable to

If you are not accountable to anyone, you can do whatever you want; break your own rules, and no one will rebuke you. Then, of course, you may live with the guilt, but the deed's already done, and there will be no progress on your New Year resolution.

To stick to your mental health resolutions this year, inform a close friend about the resolution and stay accountable to them. So when you find yourself doing all the things you wouldn't do, there's someone to put you in check.

One way to go is by having periodic meetings with a mental health expert, especially when you have some mental issue you're trying to manage, like stress and anxiety.

4.       Be kind to yourself

Hey, no one said it's going to be easy, and you shouldn't be too hard on yourself. Change is difficult, and when it comes to mental health resolutions, it can be hard to stop or commit to a practice overnight.

So, why not make baby steps this time around? You may have been setting overly drastic resolutions in the previous year, so it's been almost impossible to stay committed.

If you've been a heavy drinker, perhaps resolve to limit your drinking this year instead of quitting altogether. Again, baby steps!

5.       Learn more about mental health

The more you learn about mental health, the more reasons you find to prioritize it. From regular exercise to getting out more and cutting substance use, there are so many health benefits to gain from simple lifestyle habits. So this year, make a resolution to go for it and live a happier, healthier life!

Cheers!

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.