Whether you love New Year’s or not, it is a good opportunity to create new habits that can boost your mental health so you have a calmer, more peaceful 12 months ahead of you.
Here are some resolutions you could make ahead of December 31st for a more stable 2024.
- Social media break
For many people, social media is a place where they can share their thoughts and feelings with like-minded people. However, it can also be a toxic environment, with trolling affecting a huge number of people.
Even if you are not a victim of negative or abusive comments, spending so much time on social media forces users to disconnect with the real world. It can also encourage people to compare their lives to others’, which come across as perfect on the online platforms, increasing stress, overwhelm and depressive symptoms.
Therefore, it is a good idea to have regular social media breaks, such as when you are on holiday. Alternatively, you could ban screen time an hour before bed to help you to sleep, stop looking at it first thing in the morning, or simply reduce your daily usage so you are not as affected by online posts.
- Look after your physical health
The most common New Year’s resolution that people make is to exercise more, but many people fail to keep up with their workout plans after just a few weeks.
It is a good idea to look at exercise not just as a way to shed pounds or get stronger but to improve your emotional wellbeing too.
Whether you go for a walk, join a class, or commit to the gym, exercise releases endorphins, encourages a sense of pride, distracts you from negative thoughts, and gives you some time to yourself.
Instead of getting frustrated when you aren’t hitting personal bests a few months into the year, think of exercise as a form of self-care.
By the same token, you should reduce your alcohol intake, as it is a depressant; eat a balanced diet, as this will provide your body with vitamins and nutrients that can lower stress and anxiety and make you feel more physically able; and allow yourself a treat from time to time, whether that is chocolate or a new item of clothing.
Constantly depriving ourselves of things can become depressing, so make sure to reward yourself.
- Sleep more
One of the best habits you could adopt this year is to sleep more. Sleep has a huge impact on mental health, as it allows the body to physically and mentally recover, improves alertness, and boosts mood.
A Harvard study showed that 65 to 90 per cent of people who have major depression have a sleeping disorder too.
If you do struggle to get to sleep, this is a good time to commit to a good bedtime routine, including going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even at the weekend.
It is also important to avoid napping in the day; limiting caffeine, sugar and alcohol a few hours before bed as they disturb sleep; and not look at screens for an hour before going to sleep, as the light can keep you awake.
You should also not drink too much at night, as waking up for the toilet can make it hard to fall back asleep. Another tip is having a cold shower before bed as the drop in temperature can help the body to relax, so avoid those warm baths in the evening.
- Prioritise your mental health
Making your mental health a priority this year could be a big step for you. This could be as simple as doing a short mindfulness activity a day, such as writing a journal, doing some breathing exercises, colouring or drawing, or going for a ten-minute walk and listening to nature.
You could also write things you are grateful for or positive events that happened that day, practise saying ‘no’ to things to avoid feeling overwhelmed and undervalued, and having a clear out, as this can make people feel liberated when the clutter has gone.
Take a moment to think about whether these activities to improve your mental health are having a big effect or whether you have underlying issues or experience of trauma that you need to resolve first.
Talking with a trained therapist, alongside improving your self-care, can be just what you need to make 2024 the year you find peace and clarity in a chaotic world.
