New Year
Are New Year Resolutions Healthy?
We have always associated New Year resolutions with 'bettering' one's self or circumstances and viewed it as a positive practise. Setting goals and pushing yourself to achieve certain targets or aims can be beneficial if approached in a sustainable and realistic manner, with the understanding that life does just get in the way sometimes and 'failing' to reach these goals, does not make you a failure.
It is easier said than done though, to put this into precise as self-critique can blur the mind. We encourage you to reassess your New Year resolutions for 2023, with a focus on well-being and being less precise as you would normally when setting any resolutions.
We have written some examples below on how to set out positive change without creating negativity if some are not managed daily, weekly or even yearly.
Adjusting Expectations
Read 5 more books this year < Read when I can and take time to enjoy the moment
Cut out junk food completely < Introduce one new healthy alternative
Do yoga every night before bed < Do a few yoga sessions a month in person or online (giving yourself flexibility if you just don't want to leave the flat)
Go to the gym 5 times a week < Take a 20-minute walk in the fresh air daily to get started
Realistic Resolutions for Your Mental Health
Make time for self-care It's important to take a break and schedule in time just for you. Set a goal to do something nice for yourself each day, that could be a short walk, going to the cinema, making yourself a nice hot drink or speaking with a friend.
Be kind to yourself Life is not linear and it's ok to have off and down days. Be kind and gentle to yourself, like you would to a friend.
Prioritise Sleep Read this article by Mind for the Power of Sleep.
Limit your screen time You can access your screen time via any smart phone and it's a good idea to check this out and assess where you're placing your time. Social media can be fun and a good way to communicate with family and friends, especially if they don't live close by, but can also be addictive, steal time away from other areas in life and it can also affect sleep quality. If you're spending 1 hour on social media a day, why not set a timer and designate half an hour to keep on track.
Learn more about mental health Read our well-being page here for plenty of mental health resources.