Mental health should be a priority regardless of what else is going on in our lives but especially after such an unpredictable year as 2022 was! This new year is the perfect opportunity for us all to focus on improving our mental well-being by making time for self-care activities, giving ourselves space and grace when needed, and building healthy habits into our everyday lives which will help keep us feeling grounded even during times of chaos.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the New Year
Let’s face it, 2022 was an interesting year for many of us. It was the year several of us needed to:
- decide if we continue wearing masks full time, part time, or never;
- figure out what sending our children back to school and to social events looked like;
- pivot to working in the office, at home, or both;
- listen to dozens (if not hundreds) of differing opinions from friends, family, social media, the news…breathe it will be ok!
It’s no wonder so many of us felt a sense of burnout, and emotional/mental exhaustion last year. Nobody would blame you either; there were so many things vyying for our attention, decisions we needed to make, new habits and ways of being we needed to figure out – not only from the list above but also from all the things that regular life just throws at us.
I have good news for you all, it’s 2023 and now that we are a year wiser, a year more experienced, and a year ahead, we have an opportunity to recalibrate, reprioritize, and refocus on the things that are important. In order to do that though step one is making sure to to take care or yourself.
Below are three tips on how we can begin building healthy habits for 2023.
Make Time for Self-Care
Self-care is an important part of maintaining your mental health. It might look different for everyone but the idea is to make time for activities that you enjoy and that help you relax and recharge. That could mean anything from going for a walk or spending time with friends to taking a hot bath or reading a book, hitting the gym or the driving range, learning a new recipe. Whatever it looks like for you, make sure you schedule in regular self-care sessions throughout the week (in fact we strongly recommend physically inserting self care into your calendars) so that you have something to look forward to and give yourself permission to unplug from work and other commitments. Plus, if it’s planned, and your other responsibilites are covered, you can truly unwind.
Give Yourself Space and Grace
It’s also important to give yourself space and grace when it comes to your mental health this year. This means not being too hard on yourself if things don’t go as planned, recognizing when something is out of your control, or simply giving yourself permission just to slow down when needed. It’s ok if your plans change or if you don’t complete everything on your list; life doesn’t always go according to plan! Just remember not to beat yourself up over it and know that there are always other options available.
Build Healthy Habits
Sometimes it can be hard to break out of negative patterns in our lives but building healthy habits can help us stay mindful about how we take care of ourselves mentally and physically each day. Start by creating small goals that are easy enough for you reach – think drinking more water, eating healthier foods, exercising regularly, etc – then work towards making those goals into habits over time by setting reminders or writing them down somewhere visible like on your fridge or bathroom mirror. Making these healthy habits part of your daily routine will help keep you feeling balanced even in times of stress or uncertainty.
Bring Others Into Your Journey
Talking through a difficult situation with someone else can be very helpful when times get a little convoluted and complicated. Having someone who will listen and comfort us during tough times can make us feel less alone and isolated. There may be times where seeking out professional help – from a psychologist or a trained counsellor – would help further tease apart the complexities of emotions and mental health. They may even help equip you with new tools and resources that would last you a lifetime!
Mental health should be a priority regardless of what else is going on in our lives but especially after such an unpredictable year as 2022 was! This new year is the perfect opportunity for us all to focus on improving our mental well-being by making time for self-care activities, giving ourselves space and grace when needed, and building healthy habits into our everyday lives which will help keep us feeling grounded even during times of chaos.
Let’s all commit together this 2023 to taking better care of ourselves both mentally and physically!
