Mental Health in 2024
There is something refreshing about starting a new year. It is a time of reflection and a time for new beginnings. The new year can be seen as a breath of fresh air for many people. As they look back on the previous year, they might come to realizations about what worked and what did not. It is the perfect time for a “second chance.”
We live in a fast-paced society where it seems as if everyone is rushing to complete one task after another. We have the potential to prioritize busyness, so it can be difficult to take a step back and slow down. With school, work, and basic routines, it can be easy to become mentally exhausted. That’s why taking time to focus on one’s own mental health is significant.
How can someone prioritize their mental health in 2024? What we do know is our physical and mental health go hand-in-hand; so, caring for the state of our bodies is key. Self-care has been a more relevant topic in recent years. This can include exercising regularly, healthy diet modifications, and sufficient sleeping. Activities, such as going for a walk or playing golf with friends can release chemicals called endorphins in the brain, which can improve one’s energy and reduce stress. Ensuring one is consuming a balanced diet is necessary for the body to operate properly. Lack of sleep can cause individuals to feel irritable, depressed, or have mood swings or a lack of motivation. The amount of sleep one gets every single night will affect how they operate throughout the day. A lack of sleep will impact one’s thoughts and energy which can lead to a decline in mental health. Creating some sort of routine will aid in adding balance to one’s life.
A human being is far more than just their physical being, so caring for your soul is extremely important. One way we can do this is by practicing gratitude. Starting a gratitude journal and documenting five things you’re grateful for every single day can add joy to your day. Mindfulness is another technique to relieve an individual of stress and anxiety and boost overall well-being. Mindfulness includes becoming aware of your surroundings and of your own personal state. Some ways to practice mindfulness are deep breathing and meditation. Both of these techniques can provide a calming response and help an individual regulate their emotions. Prioritizing soul care is important to provide peace and increase well being.
Something that may be helpful to implement into our day-to-day lives is the concept of “saying no”. It can be overwhelming to have to take care of yourself, meet deadlines, and try to balance a social life on top of all of it all. Although it is extremely important to surround yourself with community, it is also necessary not to put pressure on your stress and anxiety. Why is it important to “guard your yes?” Firstly, burnout is quite prevalent in today’s society. It can cause fatigue and jeopardize both our mental and physical health. Secondly, constantly saying yes can prevent you from achieving your personal goals. With the new year comes new aspirations, so it is important to know your limitations and sustain energy to be successful in accomplishing those goals. Finally, it can be easy to bite off more than you can chew. It is much more beneficial to focus on one, or a few things at a time, and do those things to the best of your ability. The products will be at a higher quality because more energy is being aimed on those tasks. It can seem impolite to say no at times. However, it can be necessary to set boundaries to ensure you, and others, are treated well.
As the year goes on, it can be easy to lose motivation or trail off from the original goals set. It requires self-discipline and accountability to follow through with those goals. It is important to engage in positive self-talk and push away the doubts and discouragement coming from others or from your own mind. When setting a goal, it is necessary to plan ahead. Set a plan on how long it will take to achieve such a goal and how to get there. For example, if the goal is to go on a run every single day, then one can plan ahead by creating a schedule on the first day of each week. To have time already set aside will be significant in accomplishing those goals.
All-in-all, we want to protect our mental well-being. It seems as if sometimes this can be the first thing we forget. With the year just beginning, we have the chance to “start over.” There is an opportunity to create acceptable habits in order to be the happiest and healthiest version of yourself.
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