Managing Your Mental Health in the New Year

The holiday season is often filled with joy, celebration, and cherished moments with loved ones.

However, it can also bring about stress, exhaustion, and a disruption to our regular routines. As the festivities wind down, it's time to get back to prioritizing your mental health and establish healthy habits to ease the transition into the new year. I want to make sure that the anxiety that you were feeling being around family, the mood shifts that they may have created, the burdens that you held during that time are handled in a way that sets you up for a promising year.

Lets gets started… 

Reflect on the Holiday Experience

Take some time to reflect on your holiday experience. Acknowledge both the positive and challenging aspects. Reflecting can help you gain insights into what worked well and what you might want to improve upon in the future. Consider journaling or discussing your thoughts with a trusted friend or therapist. Identify the feelings that you had such as anxiety or depression and examine what was actually triggering that for you. We can use our experiences to be able to better understand ourselves throughout the year.

Re-establish Your Routine

The holiday season often disrupts our regular schedules. As you transition back to your daily routine, focus on re-establishing healthy habits. Set consistent sleep patterns, prioritize regular exercise, and maintain a balanced diet. These simple yet powerful steps can have a significant impact on your overall well-being. Often times during the last few months of the year, the things that we always did to keep ourselves sane are not done. We become inconsistent with our therapy sesisons, inconsistent with our eating habits, spend more money than we typically would. Being able to get back to the routine can reduce the anxiety that we feel about the new year and improve our mood.

Practice Self-Care

Engage in activities that promote self-care and relaxation. Dedicate time to activities you enjoy, such as reading, taking baths, practicing mindfulness or meditation, or pursuing hobbies. Prioritizing self-care allows you to recharge and replenish your mental and emotional reserves. I know it’s been said before and I’m going to say it to you again, you cannot pour from an empty cup. You have to make sure that you are functioning in order to be able to show up for others and continue to do the things that make your life desirable.

Set Realistic Goals

Avoid overwhelming yourself with unrealistic expectations for the new year. Instead, set small, achievable goals that align with your values and aspirations. Breaking down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps can help you maintain motivation and a sense of accomplishment. One thing, that I like to suggest to people is the power of setting your goals based on the quarters of the year. What this does is helps you to focus on goal and be more intentional because the time frame to reach it is shorter.

Connect with Others

Maintaining social connections is important to your mental health. Reach out to friends and family members, schedule catch-up sessions, or join community groups that align with your interests. Engaging in meaningful conversations and fostering connections can provide a sense of belonging and support. Just remember we were meant to be part of a community and even though you may enjoy your alone time, you still need others to lean on from time to time.

Seek Professional Support

This is where I come in! If you find yourself struggling with post-holiday blues or experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or anxiety, consider seeking professional help. Mental health professionals, like me, can provide guidance, support, and evidence-based interventions to help you navigate this period effectively. One of the things that I really enjoy doing is being able to help people dig through all the crap to be able to build a better life for themselves each and every year.

In all, please do not forget to prioritize your mental health and well-being. By reflecting on your experiences, re-establishing routines, practicing self-care, setting realistic goals, connecting with others, and seeking professional support when needed, you can improve and maintain your mental well-being after the holiday season. Remember, taking care of your mental health is a continuous journey that requires patience, self-compassion, and a commitment to self-care.