It’s the new year - finally! People are now getting back to work from the holiday break and looking toward the year ahead. During this time, something on many people’s minds is their goals for the next twelve months. While professional and fitness goals are common, people should also set goals regarding their mental health. In the post below, we discuss goals that people can set to improve their mental health, and we detail ways that they can achieve those goals this year.
Mental health goals are important for everyone.
Setting mental health goals is important for both people who are struggling with mental health conditions and those who are not. Even though a person can manage their mental health today, that does not mean the person will not face mental health challenges in the future. Many mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, are becoming more common, and they often affect people whom one would not expect. By setting specific goals for maintaining and improving mental well-being, people can manage their mental health successfully during difficult times.
Consider journaling for anxiety and depression
One way to improve one’s mental health this year is by setting daily journaling goals. Journaling for depression and anxiety involves reflecting on one’s current thoughts and feelings and putting them on paper. This exercise can be beneficial for helping people manage stress and a range of other mental health challenges. An important characteristic of journaling is that a person can journal from anywhere and only needs a pen and paper. People can use computers for journaling, too. To get started journaling, set a daily goal of at least five minutes per day of writing. Methods to use when journaling for mental health improvement include:
- Writing about one’s fears and concerns.
- Writing about ways that future events may affect you.
- Writing about what you will do if you experience an event that is currently causing you stress.
- Writing about ways that you can alleviate your stress.
- Writing about positive events in your life.
The above techniques are useful because they encourage people to analyze their lives carefully and process their emotions. When people journal, the end results are that they often realize many sources of stress and anxiety are manageable. Studies have proven that journaling is a useful tool for improving people’s mental health, and we encourage people to set a goal of journaling for just five minutes a day. People can work their way up to longer journaling sessions that last around 15 minutes.
Set social media usage limits
A significant source of stress for people is social media. People may feel anxiety about missing out on conversations or events, and they may face self-esteem issues when comparing their lives to the lives of people they see online. To help improve mental well-being, people should set goals for limited social media use this year.
A realistic goal to set is to use social media for under an hour a day. There are a variety of apps that can help track a person’s social media use, and people can also track their social media use manually. When people get their social media under control, they can focus on themselves and their mental health in the present moment. In addition to setting time limits for social media use, another useful step is to unfollow pages and people that do not promote positive content.
Commit to regular exercise
Everyone has heard that daily exercise is important for both physical and mental health. However, not everyone gets the exercise they need. Going into the new year, set a goal for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Also, be sure to meet this goal for a minimum of three to five weeks. Noticeable changes to your health may take some time to occur.
Physical activity can help improve mental health because it triggers the release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are natural hormones that result in people feeling good and developing a positive outlook. Additionally, exercise is an easy and achievable way to take one’s mind off of sources of stress and anxiety.
Sign up for volunteer opportunities
Another way that people can improve their mental health in the new year is by signing up for volunteer opportunities. Volunteering can include formal programs at hospitals, education centers, food pantries, or homeless shelters. Additionally, one can volunteer informally, such as purchasing groceries for an elderly neighbor to keep them safe during COVID-19.
Volunteering can help people improve their mental health by providing a sense of purpose through helping others. Additionally, many people experience benefits from volunteering through increased social interaction and improving their social skills. Lastly, like exercise, volunteering is a great way to focus on the present moment and stop worrying about the future.
Make a plan to improve your mental health in 2021
It is now 2021, and with the new year, people can let go of bad habits and mindsets that negatively impacted their mental health in 2020. Journaling, limiting social media use, exercising, and volunteering are great ways to improve one’s mental health in the year ahead. However, people can often fall off track when trying to improve their mental health. Days can turn into weeks, and weeks can turn into months of little progress. Setting clear goals for improving one’s mental health is a great way to ensure that you follow through on improving your mental health this year.
Once you set goals and know how you plan to improve your mental health in the year ahead, write your goals down. Write them down on paper, on your phone, or send an email to yourself. Putting your goals in writing can help you adhere to your plan. Additionally, share your goals with a loved one or close friend. When other people are aware of your goals and check in on how you are doing, you are more likely to stick to your plan.
Getting started at Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital
People who struggle with mental health challenges sometimes need help from behavioral health professionals. These needs include challenges related to new year’s resolutions and anxiety, depression and new year’s resolutions, post-holiday depression, and other issues that arise this time of year.
Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital serves people who are feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed or who are suffering from a range of other mental health issues. Our programs include adult inpatient psychiatric care and adolescent inpatient psychiatric care. We also offer a range of outpatient care programs.
To learn more about treatment options at Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, reach out to our team. You can contact us online or call us directly at (972) 982-0897.