As cliche as it may be, many of us still make New Year’s Resolutions each and every year, only to be hit with self-doubt and crippling disappointment.
Often, this is because we are setting the bar too high for ourselves, and thinking about how we appear to others rather than how we appear to ourselves.
One of the best things you can do for your mental health as we ring in 2021, is set some resolutions that focus on mental wellness. Courtesy of Lehigh Center for Clinical Research, here are four easily-attainable New Year’s resolutions that will benefit your mental health.
Practice Self Care
One of the best ways to improve your mental health and self-image is to practice self-care. It can be tempting to focus on the needs of others in your life, especially if you’re a kind and empathetic person by nature, but often, this comes at the expense of your own needs.
This New Year, try focusing on thinking of yourself a bit more. To start, you could brainstorm a list of things that make you happy and schedule them as part of your daily routine.
Everything from therapy sessions to exercise to spending time with loved ones could be ways to practice self-care.
Take a Break From Social Media
The rapidly increasing presence of social media in our lives has undoubtedly impacted society on some level. While services like Facebook or Instagram can be a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, they also have the potential to negatively affect your mental health.
Due to the nature of such sites, it can almost seem as if comparing yourself to others is encouraged. Spending too much time witnessing the carefully selected and seemingly perfect snippets of others’ day-to-day lives can lead to unfounded feelings of inadequacy if you feel you aren’t able to keep up.
In 2021, always be conscious of how much time you’re spending on social media, and try limiting your screen time as much as possible. You’ll be surprised how much better you may feel.
Learn More About Mental Health
One of the best ways to improve your mental health is by learning as much as you can about it. Luckily, there are multiple online resources you can use that both provide vital information, and allow you to connect with others who may be struggling in a similar way.
Additionally, you may decide to speak to a qualified mental health professional for more insight into your thought patterns and behavior. By doing so, you’ll become more aware of the things that make you tick, and eventually you can focus more energy on working through any issues you may be having.
Help Others Who Struggle with Mental Illness
If you’re struggling with mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or anything else this holiday, you are not alone. In fact, there are literally millions of people just like you who are all working towards bettering themselves emotionally.
At Lehigh Center for Clinical Research, we conduct a variety of safe and humane studies that aim to learn as much as we can about various mental health disorders and how we can effectively treat them. Deciding to participate in a study or trial not only has the potential to help you, but others like you as well.
At LCCR, our team says a higher standard in delivering both quality and care to our participants. To learn more about our trials and how you can become an eligible participant, don’t hesitate to contact us today for more information! We hope to hear from you!
