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As the 2024 new year draws closer, it brings with it the promise of fresh beginnings and opportunities for self-improvement. While many people focus on physical health goals as part of their New Year’s resolutions, it’s equally important to prioritise your mental well-being and health.
Find out some helpful new year’s resolutions for mental health and learn strategies to help you set useful resolutions that will help you to improve your emotional and psychological well-being. A happier, healthier you starts from within, so begin 2024 with a journey of self-discovery and growth by following our useful resolutions.
Find out some top New Year resolutions for mental health below.
6 Best New Year Resolutions for Mental Health
Setting beneficial Near Year resolutions to improve mental health can transform your life and general wellbeing. See our top 6 resolutions for mental health here:
Improve Physical Health
A very common New Year Resolution is to get fitter, exercise more and lose weight. However, exercising is also great for your mental wellbeing, as exercise releases endorphins that are very beneficial for your mental health.
Especially if the exercise form you choose is something that you enjoy as a hobby such as swimming or tennis, having a New Year’s resolution to get fit can make a massive difference to your mental health.
Team sports are another way that having a New Year’s resolution to get fitter is good for your mental health. Physical activities that take place as a team or group such as football, hockey, dance, yoga, bowling etc also provide you with a support group and new friends. Physical health and mental health often go hand in hand, so setting this as a resolution in the New Year is a good idea.
Try a New Hobby
Trying a new hobby can boost your mental health by reducing stress, improving your mood, promoting creativity, and also giving you something to do that you truly enjoy.
Trying and sticking to a new hobby can also provide valuable opportunities for learning, emotional regulation, and personal growth, making it a valuable New Year’s Resolution for mental health.
There are endless hobbies that you can choose to try out in 2024, from sports, crafts, activities such as singing or writing, and volunteering in the local community. By finding something that you enjoy doing on a regular basis, you will give yourself a regular spike in endorphins which will help your mental health.
Practice Mindfulness Techniques Daily
If your mental health is something that you wish to improve and focus on in the New Year, setting a New Year’s resolution to practice regular mindfulness is a good way to start the year off.
Meditation, yoga, and mindfulness walks are good ways to reflect on your own wellbeing and spend some time with yourself. We can often get wrapped up and not take care of ourselves, so setting a resolution to practice mindfulness techniques is a good way to schedule time for yourself.
Do Something You Enjoy
From spending time with family and friends to travelling or volunteering, setting a resolution to do something you enjoy regularly will naturally benefit your mental health. We often underestimate how much of a difference our routine makes to our wellbeing, so deciding to do something you enjoy will make a big difference in your life.
There is no better time to decide to do something you enjoy than in the New Year, as it serves as a fresh start. Particularly if the past few months or years have been difficult with your mental health, finding enjoyment in small activities or hobbies in the New Year will benefit your mental health.
Get More Sleep
Sleep is incredibly important to how we feel. For people who suffer from mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and psychosis, poor sleep can negatively impact wellbeing and make symptoms worse.
Setting a goal to sleep for longer can be a hugely beneficial New Year resolution to set yourself. The more sleep we get the better, so aiming for 8 hours and trying to succeed in achieving this goal is a great way to improve mental health.
Managing to sleep for 8 hours every night may not be achievable, but sticking to a routine is another very beneficial factor for good mental health. Setting a regular bedtime/wind down can help you to feel relaxed before bed, which can help sleep quality.
Waking up at a similar time every day can also help you to feel less tired and lethargic, which can improve mental health.
Cut Out Alcohol and Drugs
Whether just for Dry January or long term, avoiding drugs and alcohol and going sober is good for both your physical and mental health. Drugs and alcohol can make depression and anxiety worse, so setting a goal to avoid substances completely will really benefit you.
If you struggle with drug or alcohol abuse and want to quit in the New Year, speak to a medical professional first before detoxing. Especially if you suffer with severe addiction, detoxing suddenly without medical supervision can be dangerous to your health.
Staying sober can completely change your life and transform your mental health, particularly if you suffer from anxiety after drinking. Consider setting addiction recovery as a New Year Resolution for mental health.
Need Support to Improve Your Mental Health?
If you think that you require help to improve your mental health, there are a number of resources available to help you. Organisations such as Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), Citizens Advice Scotland, and Change Mental Health are all mental health services that can help you in times of need.
If you are struggling with your mental health and drug or alcohol abuse, we can help you at Nova Recovery. We offer leading addiction treatment and have mental health nurses on hand to help you manage your mental as well as physical health.
If you require support, don’t be afraid to reach out today. You can phone on 01475 303998 or fill out our contact form for more information.
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John Gillen
- Author
- Last updated: December 15, 2023
John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.