A New Year, a new decade, and a new outlook! For many of us, December 31st sparks a new beginning or milestone of where we are and where we hope to be in 2020. Your New Year’s resolution may include exercising more, finding a better job, getting out of credit card debt, or learning ways to improve your mental health, so you feel stronger and more confident going into 2020.
If learning how to improve your mental health is your new resolution then the key to your success will be making a plan and following that path all the way through. Here are some mental health tips for the New Year to help you get started.
Mental Health Wellness Tips for 2020
Mental Health Tip #1: Get Up & Get Active
Getting regular exercise and staying active is great for the body and even better for the mind. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that help improve your mood and reduce symptoms related to stress or depression (Mayo Clinic).
How to Follow This Path Through? Find a Workout Buddy!
Signing up for a gym membership sounds easy enough, but making the trip every week, especially during the winter months, can become a nuisance. This year, find out if a close friend or relative shares the same goal and make a plan to go to the gym together each week. Having a friend who is counting on you, and one you can also count on, will motivate you to stick to your workout routine regularly and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Mental Health Tip #2: Fill Your Plate with Nutrients
Eating right is an essential part of taking care of your body, as the nutrients you consume every day have a direct effect on your brain’s health and wellness.
How to Follow This Path Through? Switch Out Your Snack Options!
If you tend to reach for the salty sweets or heavy carb meals to deal with stress or anxiety, try replacing these foods in your fridge and cupboards with healthier options, like fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds: “…vegetables and fruits are loaded with nutrients that feed every cell of your body, including those that affect mood-regulating brain chemicals,” (Psychology Today).
Mental Health Tip #3: Assess Your Sleeping Patterns
If you’re not getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night, the first step is identifying what’s keeping you awake after hours. Anxiety, for example, can cause recurring thoughts and worries to circle around in your mind, preventing you from getting peaceful shut eye (National Sleep Foundation).
How to Follow This Path Through? Try Meditation!
Learning how to quiet the thoughts in your head and focus on the present may help you achieve a better night’s sleep. This may also help you learn how to relax your muscles and breathe in a calm rhythmic pattern that eventually helps you doze off into a sound slumber. For ideas on meditation, Sleep.org offers helpful tips on how to mediate before going to bed.
Mental Health Tip #4: Talk to a Mental Health Expert
We all experience nervousness or anxiety when it comes to asking someone for help. Whether this is caused by social stereotypes or our own fears, seeking professional guidance for a mental health condition is the first step towards taking back control of your life and helping you find your voice again. You may decide to seek therapy to help you cope with personal life events, problems in relationships, or to assess symptoms you’re experiencing that are affecting your quality of life and may be associated with a specific mental health disorder.
How to Follow This Path Through? Visit The Calli Institute!
If you’re ready to take the first step to recovery, the mental health providers at Calli can help. We offer individual therapy, group therapy, couples therapy, medication management, and other comprehensive, holistic care services that focuses on your personal goals. We work to understand you as an individual, not as a condition, and then match you with an experienced therapist who is uniquely positioned to understand your needs and build a supportive relationship that leads to long-term success.
Looking for ways to improve your mental health in the new year? Contact Calli today to learn more about our services, mental health care team, and how we can help you become your best self in 2020 and beyond.