New Year Resolutions to Improve Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing

New Year Resolutions to Improve Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing

After a busy festive period, the New Year can be an ideal chance for a fresh start and to begin the year with a healthy mindset. From huge habit-changing undertakings to small adjustments in your daily routine, resolutions can be life-changing — if you stick to them. Many of us have already enlisted some ideas for New Year's resolutions, i.e. joining a gym, spending more time with family, looking for a new job, reducing weight, or saving money.

Here, we've listed a few New Year resolutions to improve your mental health and well-being, resulting in long-lasting benefits. Let’s get started:

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness should be at the top of your New Year resolution list. Practicing mindfulness has benefits that extend to improved well-being, mental and physical health, better sleep, reduced stress, but also to an improved level of happiness. Because life is unpredictable and stress is normal, mindfulness helps you to develop an awareness of your internal state and feelings that drive your behavior. Mindfulness connects us to the bigger picture and our greater sense of self. It will also help you achieve your other resolutions.

Read more: https://omnihelp.com/b/building-a-daily-meditation-practice-7-imperative-tips

Take Care of Your Physical Wellbeing

Your physical health and mental well-being are linked with each other. There are many positive changes you can make adopt to improve your physical wellbeing that also results in mental health benefits

 Exercise Regularly: Exercise boosts the happy brain chemicals called endorphins, which improve your mood and sense of well-being. Make a habit of exercising regularly, even a short walk, to keep yourself physically and mentally active.

Eat Healthy: Try to eat healthier in the New Year by skipping bad habits. A healthy diet provides physical health benefits and positively impacts your mental wellbeing.

Get Enough Sleep: Make a habit of sleeping early and getting adequate sleep. Good sleep improves your brain performance, mood, and health. The research suggests that healthy adults needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night.

Positive Self Talk

When making resolutions, it’s common to say, “I’m not going to XYZ,” where the “XYZ” is the habit you want to eliminate. But did you know that just saying these words, even though you are NOT doing them, triggers your brain to associate your habits with what you want to stop doing?

Practice Gratitude

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Whether you're thankful for warm sunshine on a cool day or you're grateful you have enough money to pay the bills this month, paying attention to the good things in your life stirs up warm and fuzzy feelings.

You can add different ways to practice gratitude to your New Year resolution list, such as:

• Keep a journal
• Create a gratitude jar
• Love yourself
• Lend a listening ear
• Write an appreciation note

Digital Detox

You should do a digital detox for your New Year resolution because it will help you concentrate on the present moments. You can do this in different ways:

• Put your phone on 'do not disturb' mode as soon as you reach home. Practice it for a week and spend that time with yourself and your loved ones. You will see noticeable improvements in your mental health and relationship with others.
• You can limit your screen time by giving access to only selected, useful apps. Random notifications from different apps can reduce the span of your attention and the quality of your performance.
• Do not start and end your day by checking your phone. Our brain needs around 30 minutes to wake up from sleep inertia. The same happens before going to bed. Your brain requires time away from screens to delve into sleeping mode because the blue light affects sleeping behavior.

Learn to Say ‘No’

One of the most fulfilling resolutions you can make at any time of year, but particularly heading into 2023, is to say ‘no’ more often. When you say ‘yes’ to everything, you flood your calendar and to-do list, making it impossible to prioritize your tasks. Once you’ve learned how to say no when that’s the right choice, you will be better positioned to prioritize joy with the time and energy you get back.

Embrace Change

Although change can feel intimidating, it can lead to exciting new possibilities. This year, you need to learn to embrace change instead of fearing it. It will help transitions feel more exciting and less stressful.

Spend More Time with Family and Friends

Spending more time with your family and friends seems to top many people's New Year's resolutions. When you spend more time with people who make you feel alive, it can elevate your mood. Set aside some quality time with your friends and family members next year.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking more water is a perfect New Year's resolution. Dehydration can cause headaches, agitation, and tiredness. You must drink enough water daily to be healthy and hydrated to combat dehydration.

Ask for Help

Many of us often feel embarrassed when asking someone to drive us home, call us to make a decision or make any requests for help. Just as people can say no, you have every right to ask. You are not a burden, and there are likely many people in your life who would love to help you.

Similarly, if you’re struggling with your mental health and support from loved ones isn’t enough, seeking professional help is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself this year. Consider reaching out to a licensed therapist to see if therapy is right for you — a convenient and inexpensive resolution that can help you start feeling better today.