The month of January always brings the comfort and excitement of new beginnings. The first of the year is the time for new diets, new lifestyle changes, new exercise plans, new career changes, new hobbies, and so much more. Lifestyle changes can be virtually anything from taking steps to improve mental health or setting a goal of waking up at 5:00 a.m. every day.
After the whirlwind of a year, 2020 was, many are turning to positive mental health tips and tricks to begin 2021 the right way, and to also cleanse their feelings of this previous hectic year. You can set helpful mental health improvement goals for yourself fairly easily! It only takes a few small steps in the right direction to completely change your well-being. Waking up earlier than you normally do to give yourself time to meditate or simply exist with a cup of coffee in the morning before rushing to prepare for work (whether virtually or in-person), can give you a calming start to your day. You will find yourself far less stressed and anxious at work when using this method. Another small step is to make sure you are getting plenty of exercise, or at least plenty of time outside. With working from home, time inside can stretch for days, leaving people with a feeling of intense melancholy and even depression. Make sure you get away from your computer and your house by going for a run or taking your dog on a walk around the neighborhood. If you cannot get away from working, simply take your laptop or work to your backyard. Get plenty of that Vitamin C to boost your serotonin! If you have been feeling anxious, depressed, full of grief, or feel as if nothing can help, please contact your local counseling agency.
Therapy can be extremely helpful for those suffering from the grief of losing a loved one, trauma, depression from being indoors and sedimentary for so long, and anxiety from what is happening in our world. Mental Health Professionals can make you feel like “you” again. Know that you are not alone and that your new year goals are only a few steps away!
If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the Suicide Hotline immediately at 800-273-8255 or contact your therapist.