PREPARING FOR THE NEW YEAR BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY

PREPARING FOR THE NEW YEAR BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY

As the end of the holiday season approaches, it is time to consider your personal

goals for the New Year. In order to achieve your resolutions and plans, there are

a few steps you can follow to help guide you through the process.

Reflect, Review, and Renew

Reflect over the last year and take stock of your accomplishments. What didn’t

you achieve, and what new goals do you have in mind? What made you happy

last year? What made you angry or sad? Think about why you were unable to

accomplish some of your goals and should you still pursue them in the future? Is

there is a pattern or common thread? Can you find ways to repeat what made

you happy in some form and avoid what made you angry? Now that you have a

good idea of what worked and what didn’t, it is time to renew your commitment

to focus on those things that are vital to your life and health.

Prioritizing Your Mental and Physical Health

Mental health has been in the forefront of everyone’s mind lately. It is as

essential to care for your mental health as it is to care for your physical health.

The two go hand-in-hand. Managing our emotions and maintaining emotional

balance is an important skill. It helps you face challenges and stress and helps

avoid difficulties in relationships. A person can look good physically and appear

that all is well with them to the outside world, but might be a mental or physical

mess beneath the exterior. I recently experienced this first-hand. I have been a

thin, size two person my whole life, but never really did physical exercise and

worked out. I would get compliments, but I was not taking care of myself the way

I should have been. As a business owner with a busy life, I didn’t realize it is not

all or nothing. Even small efforts to get exercise daily can make a real difference.

Do some yoga poses in the morning, park further away and walk to the office,

take the stairs instead of the elevator, and make it a habit to take a walk after

dinner.

You can also stay healthy by eating well, getting adequate rest, and socializing.

Eating fresh foods rich in vitamin B-12 and Omega 3 fatty acids keep up levels of

 

mood-regulating chemicals in the brain. Try to avoid lots of carbs and sugars.

Getting enough rest helps your body heal its daily wear and tear and prevent

feeling tired and cranky. Make sure to get outside for some fresh air and sunlight.

It produces serotonin, a chemical that regulates mood in the brain. Invest time in

self-care by setting aside time for your own needs. Read a book, pamper yourself,

and mindfully relax. Take time to spend with people whose company you love

and enjoy. This gives you a sense of being valued and appreciated. Make it a

point to nurture healthy relationships with friends, neighbors, and colleagues to

feel connected to the world around you. Pursuing a new hobby or activity is also

a great way to challenge you, increase concentration, and make you feel good

about learning something new.

Acknowledge Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Accepting that you have some weaknesses can be a key to your mental and

emotional well-being. Set realistic goals, choose to participate in activities, and

surround yourself with people who further your goals rather than distract you.

Being unable to express yourself is a major problem. Shying away and

suppressing emotions can lead to anxiety and depression. Make it a point to

learn to express what you are feeling. If things become overwhelming to you,

don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Gratitude

Take a minute or two to feel thankful about all the good things that came your

way this past year. Studies show that being grateful for what you have helps you

stay optimistic about your future and boosts your mental health. It moves you

forward and sets you on a positive path for the new year. I plan to take these

points to heart and work on my mental and physical self to make 2022 a great

year.