Mental health strategies for New Years

New Year Celebrations can be fun and refreshing. This season calls for self-reflection to inspire change and moving forward in our lives. People write resolutions, begin new diets and start new trends. How do you reflect during this time period? Do you feel excited? Would you like to experience positive changes in your life? Do you become depressed about the lack of accomplishment you feel? This post provides techniques and skills to help you manage your emotions through this time of year successfully.

1.)DO NOT sit around for the entire day evaluating everything that you did not accomplish this year.

Please, please, please do not treat yourself negatively.

2.) Work hard to not compare yourself to others.

I understand that Carmen now has a new beautiful house and completed her degree. Please do not feel that you should have done the same! Accept yourself!

3.) Look at the daily positives that occur! 

Example questions: Did you open the door for an old person? Who did you make laugh today? 

4.) Include mental self-care activities into your schedule 5 days before and 5 days after New Year’s Day.

December 27: Going to Yoga Class

December 28: Relaxation routine before bed.

December 29: Attending a Reiki Session.

December 30: Going to a Concert with friends.

December 31: Completing a Book.

January 1: New year Day!

January 2: Going to Yoga Class.

January 3: Relaxation routine before bed.

January 4: Completing a Book.

January 5: Going for Desert with a best friend.

January 6: Listening to a funny Podcast

5.) Do not create a New Year’s Resolution if you are a perfectionist or a person that will not attempt to do it! 

If you are a person that strives for perfection, these resolutions can inspire you to accomplish goals or cause you to feel extremely depressed. Just create a positivity chart.

6.) Focus on Growing mentally. 

Work towards creating a yearly wellness plan. This can include starting counseling, engaging in mindfulness weekly etc. 

7.) Strategize what your New Year’s Eve and day will look like.

Example: 

10:00 am- Breakfast with my Parents

12:00 pm- Running in the park

3:00 pm- Early dinner with friends

6:00 pm- Movie marathon at home. 3 of my friends will come over. 

8.) Schedule a relaxation retreat on the first or second day of January. 

Example: My massage has been scheduled for January 2nd at 11:00 am.

9.) Surround Yourself with people or activities that calm you. 

Each day I will read for 30 minutes. I will go to yoga 3 times this week.

10.) Create a daily mantra that you will repeat every morning. 

An example is— Some things may be hard, but I get everything done.