As you are adjusting to the new year, don't forget to consider incorporating positive changes to strengthen your mental health. As a spike in reports of anxiety and depression continue to rise it is important to consider active steps you can take to improve your mental health.
Here are a few of our recommendations:
1. Make goals with actionable and achievable steps.
Once you establish your goal break it down
into smaller trackable goals and praise
yourself as you progress. Acknowledging
your progress will help you stay
consistent.
For example, if you set a goal to be a
happier person. Think about a time when you
felt happier and the factors in your life
during that time that contributed to your
feelings of happiness. Break down your
larger goal into smaller goals
incorporating factors that help you to feel
fulfilled, such as, journaling nightly,
spending more time with friends, and/or going for walks
more often. This will help you acknowledge and tack
achievable steps to meet your goal.
2. Spend some time strengthening your inner connection.
Life is busy and it is easy to get stuck going
through the motions. However, we suggest
spending time connecting your mind and
your body. There is evidence that suggests
that those who are more connected with
their body and emotions are better at
managing their emotional responses.
To strengthen your mind and body
connection try spending a few minutes each
day bringing your focus in on your breath
and inspecting your body with curiosity.
This will help you build your mind and body
connection.
3. Acknowledge your inner dialogue.
How do you speak to yourself? The way you treat
yourself matters, and you should treat yourself just as
kindly as you do your best friend. Don't be hard on
yourself and embrace your humanity, even the not so
shinny parts. Reducing self-judgement and increasing
self-respect will help you build a more positive outlook
from within.