Welcome a new year and a new outlook. For many of us, December 31 sparks a new beginning or milestone, marking where we are and where we hope to be in the coming year. 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 that you feel stronger and more confident going into 2023.
If improving mental health is your resolution, the key to success will be making and following a plan. Here are some tips to become a better you and ways to improve wellness in the new year.
Get Up and Get Moving
Regular exercise and activity are great for the body and better for the mind. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that help improve your mood and reduce symptoms related to stress or depression.
Staying active is key. One way to do this is to find a workout buddy to help keep you motivated. 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.
Fill Up on Nutrients
Eating right is essential to taking care of your body. The nutrients you consume every day directly affect your brain’s health and wellness. Many of us reach for sweets or carb-heavy meals, especially when dealing with stress. Instead, try replacing those foods with healthier options such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals essential to a healthy body and mind. Research shows that snacking on fruit has a positive effect on mental wellness. In addition, eating a variety of nuts helps improve mental wellness. For example, walnuts are high in serotonin, helping to improve cognitive abilities. And almonds help the heart respond more positively to mental stress.
Evaluate Sleep Patterns
If you aren’t getting the recommended seven or more hours of sleep per night, try to determine the reason. Anxiety, for example, can cause recurring thoughts and worries, which prevents you from getting enough shut eye.
Once you’ve zeroed in on the cause of your sleeplessness, try to remedy the reason. One way to relax your mind and, by extension, your body, is through meditation.
Learn to quiet the thoughts in your head and focus on the present to achieve a better night’s sleep. Through meditation, you can also learn to relax your muscles and breathe in a calm, rhythmic pattern that eventually helps you doze off into a sound slumber.
Talk to a Professional
When it comes to asking for help, we all experience nervousness or anxiety. Whether this is caused by social stereotypes or our own fears, seeking professional guidance for a mental health condition is the first step toward taking control of your life and helping to find your voice again. You may decide to seek therapy to cope with personal life events, problems in relationships, or to assess symptoms you’re experiencing that affect your quality of life.
If you’re struggling and want to improve wellness in the new year, the mental health providers at The Calli Institute can help. We offer a host of comprehensive, holistic care services that focus on your personal goals. Together, we’ll determine your needs and match you with an experienced therapist with whom you can build a supportive relationship that leads to long-term success. Reach out to us today to learn more about the ways we can help you become your best self in 2023 and beyond.