Mental health affects how we think, feel and act. It also determines how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. You can certainly see why we’re choosing to kick off 2023 with having our mental health be top of mind. Here are three ways to reset your mind for the new year.
Put the past behind you. For starters, leave the poor decisions, unhealthy choices and negativity in 2022, and most importantly, learn from them. Reflect on the missteps and mistakes, ask yourself what contributed to you making those decisions and choices and if given the opportunity to do it again, would you act or respond in the same way(s) or differently.
Engage your brain. Just like when you start a car or ride a bike that has not been used in a while and it can take some time to get going, the same can be said for your brain. Your brain is a muscle and whether it is thinking creatively or having an empathetic take on a disagreement, you need to exercise it often in order for it to work effectively and efficiently. Fire up your brain with making a recipe instead of popping a frozen meal in the microwave, pick up a book and put down your phone or turn off the TV and turn on a guided meditation practice.
Stay positive. We’re not talking about toxic positivity (Check out
September 2020 health bulletin for more information about toxic positivity.) but rather your overall mindset and outlook. Positive thinking or an optimistic attitude is focusing on the good in any given situation. It does not mean that you ignore reality or make light of problems. It means you approach the good and bad in life and have the expectation that things will go well. A glass half full approach, if you will.
Reset Your Body
Mental and emotional health are interconnected with physical well-being and have a direct impact on each other. Here are four ways to reset your body.
Be physically active. Daily movement can improve your mood, help you feel more energized and lead to better sleep. Flip the script and instead of having the mindset that you’re exercising to lose weight, tell yourself you’re being physically active to feel better. Start with light movement and low-impact activities such as walking periodically throughout the day - whether that is around the office or around the block - and build up to more intense activities.
Sleep soundly. Getting enough sleep - both quality and quantity - can do wonders for your mental and emotional health and the reverse is also true. Poor sleep can contribute to low energy and irritability. Start by sticking to consistent sleep and wake times by going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning. Already have a schedule? Try to eliminate the use of technology for 30 minutes before bed; the reduction of blue light from electronic devices will improve your sleep quality by restoring your body’s natural
production of melatonin.
Eat well. Consuming a healthy, well-balanced diet is the best thing you can do to get your eating habits back on track following an indulgent holiday season. A healthy diet also fuels a healthy mind and contributes to a good mood. As a reminder, the composition of a well-balanced diet includes whole grains, lean protein, fruits, vegetables and plenty of water. Give yourself grace for the indulgences you consumed (and hopefully enjoyed) and get back on track.
Imbibe cautiously. Coupled with eating better is being mindful of what you’re drinking. The intersection of alcohol and the month of January is often “dry January” - abstaining from alcohol for the entire month. If you’re interested in decreasing your alcohol intake while still carrying over the festive holiday spirit, check out this
SELF-compiled list of
the best non-alcoholic drinks. Personally, I have my eye on the key lime margarita. The next door neighbor to “dry January” is “damp January.” While “dry January” is all about no alcohol consumption for the entire month of January, “damp January” offers a bit more flexibility and customization based on your relationship with alcohol and goals. For more information about “damp January” check out this
Eating Well article.
