5 Ways to Prioritize Your Mental Health in the New Year

The New Year is here!

Many have made resolutions, vision boards, workout plans, and other steps to have a great year, but many don’t spend time prioritizing their mental health. This will directly play a role in their new year goals.

It’s so easy to get lost in the sauce and become overwhelmed. Guess what? You may start to push your mental health goals to the back burner. Part of having a great year is prioritizing your mental health.

Here are 5 ways to prioritize your mental health in the new year:

1. Journaling

Journaling has a variety of benefits that gives you insight into your wins and losses. It’s always good to go over the day and see what happened from a different perspective. Aside from venting out your feelings, it’s a great way to recognize behavior patterns or themes you may not always be aware of.

In fact, Psych Central shared that reflecting on your daily experiences in many parts of your life helps you get in better touch with your thoughts, and feelings,

and let’s add actions. When you’re aware of these areas, you have a greater likelihood of reducing anxiety, stress, and overwhelm while increasing your resilience to do hard things. Wouldn’t you want to have a greater peace of mind?

2. Prioritizing self-care

The talk of self-care has been on the rise and people are finding ways to make it a priority. Treat yo’ self anyone? So, I am sure we all know how important it is to take some time off to truly look after yourself and what’s on your plate.

What really is self-care though? Sure, we can splurge on a new item and call it self-care, but if it leaves us stressing about your rent bill or how you will for an important appointment like therapy… perhaps it ain’t self-care but an attempt to fill a void.

3. Practice saying no

For many of us, saying no can be hard and uncomfortable. Maybe we were told no too often as young people or we’re in codependent relationships where you’re never told no. Yes, even as adults, it’s hard to say it and receive it. For whatever reason, we stretch ourselves too thin to help others and rarely do the same for ourselves. You cannot give from an empty well.

Say no, and mean it. How about - no, nah, I’m good, not right now, unfortunately, no? It’s okay to say no without guilt or shame you’re letting others down. Zen Spirit reminds us that saying yes to everything leaves us over-commended, stretched to the limit, and of course stressed.

4. Get physical exercise

Another way to prioritize your mental health in the new year is to get physical exercise. Many of us have a love hate with exercise. We get it. Getting up and doing some sort of physical activity can really improve your well-being as it releases happy brain chemicals such as endorphins, serotonin… you know those chemicals. In fact, exercising helps reduce brain fog, stress, and patience and even has the power to prevent or manage depression, stress, anxiety, and sleep issues.

Let’s take away the hate part of exercise. It doesn’t have to be long, it doesn’t have to be much. Start with five minutes a day, and go for a walk… sweat a little! Your mind will thank you for it. Importantly, check with your medical doctor to get the all clear before starting any exercise routine.

5. Be kind to yourself

Being kind to yourself is so much easier said than done. Remember, you’re human and will mess up sometimes. That’s okay. You aren’t perfect and no one should expect you to be less than human.

If you’re looking for mental health therapy in Wisconsin, visit Beloved Wellness Center Kenosha to learn more and fill out the prescreen form.

Have a wonderful year. May your year be filled with growth and love.