For decades, millions of Americans focused their New Year resolutions on diet, nutrition, and physical fitness. There has been a fundamental shift in this over the last two years, as people are now giving equal weight (sometimes greater) to mental health and wellness. It’s about time. That said, setting New Year mental health resolutions is not quite as clear cut as it is with the physical counterpart. It’s easy enough set goals based upon calories counted/burned, time on the treadmill, incremental gains in muscle mass, and so forth. Mental health goal-setting however, remains to be a grey area for most people. Regardless, this should not dissuade you from making specific commitments. We can help. Below are four key resolutions that will formulate your path towards better mental health in the year ahead.
4 Important New Year’s Resolutions for Better Mental Health in 2023 and Beyond
I. Get “Diagnosed”
Before you can address the problem, you need to know what the problem is. Someone with lower back pain can’t set goals to eradicate it unless they know the cause is muscle/ligament strain, a ruptured disk, arthritis, or something else. Only then can the appropriate treatment be prescribed. The same goes with mental health. If you feel that something is amiss, find out what it is. While you will ultimately need to receive an assessment from a professional (for proper diagnosis) you can certainly begin by taking one of the following tests (as applicable):
II. Set a Budget to Invest in Your Mental Health
Setting a budget is a part of the new year for most people and households. This budget isn’t just about savings, but also wiser allocation. As per the introduction, a portion of budgeting for New Year resolutions had been relegated towards purchasing healthier foods, supplements, and gym memberships. But now that you plan to focus on mental health, your budget should make way for investment in your mental health.
Before you set this budget, please reference the links below for greater insight. While the following information resources were written for those struggling with gambling disorder, the deliberations can be applied to most behavioral health concerns.
III. Find a Confidant
Confiding in someone about your mental health concern can be important to management and recovery. It can help in managing depression, anxiety, stress, and even gambling problems. You may find this confidant from within your immediate household or extended family. It may even be a good friend. However, the confidant needn’t be from your familial and social circle. There are online resources that allow you to connect to others in a safe and welcoming environment, with sessions led by a professional counselor with expertise in disorders that apply to your specific needs. For instance, Kindbridge Behavioral Health is proud to offer Group Services for Individuals impacted by Anxiety/Stress, Depression, Gambling, Gaming, and more in addition to similar Group Sessions for Families.
IV. Commit to Ongoing Counseling and Therapy
The New Year mental health resolutions above all lead to the most important one of all – committing to ongoing counseling and therapy via treatment that is specialized to your disorder. Without this sort of help, you may inadvertently follow the wrong path. Or, the path may not be sustainable without consistent support from a mental health professional. Give yourself the best possible shot at achieving mental health and wellness in 2023 (and beyond) by connecting to a virtual therapist today.
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