Can you believe we’re almost a month into the new year? How are you doing on your resolutions? If you haven’t been going to the gym or picking up a book as much as you’d like, don’t stress. Resolutions are all about taking baby steps towards your best self. It’s all about the progress, no matter how small! And that’s why we want to propose another thing to resolve in 2019: to support your mental health.

That might sound like it’s easier said than done but, as with any major resolution, it’s a whole lot simpler if you break it into small, manageable steps. So we’d like to offer a few ways to support your mental health in 2019.

Be grateful.

Gratitude is a crazy thing. It can help you flip a stressful situation on its head, see the way you’re interacting with a person through fresh eyes, and even give you more energy. But how does one “be grateful?” That seems a little nebulous, right? Actually, there are a few actionables things you can do to increase gratitude in your life:

• Journal for a few minutes a day, making a list of everything for which you’re thankful.

• Change your phone or computer background to something that brings you a sense of gratitude.

• Go to sleep each night thinking of the best thing that happened to you that day.

By making a few of these small rituals into habits, you’ll increase your awareness of the good things in your life, which can seriously support your mental health.

Get active.

A lot of people resolve to work out in the new year. We’re not necessarily advocating for going to the gym. In fact, if you hate it, definitely don’t! But do something that will get you moving each day. Physical activity is directly linked to mental health. This could be as simple as taking your dog for a walk, meeting up with a friend for a short hike (our hills are extra green right now after all that rain!), or trying one of our yoga classes at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center. However you choose to get your body moving, make sure it’s something you like. You’re a lot more likely to stick with something if you enjoy it.

Get some rest.

On the flip side, make sure you’re making time to slow down, too. Adults should be getting around seven hours of sleep each night. And shut eye isn’t the only rest that matters, either. We’ve got a whole blog on the importance of self-care. If you need a little reminder to slow down and make time for yourself, give it a read as you draw yourself a bath, make yourself a cup of tea, or do whatever else will make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

Seek out support.

No man is an island! The people around you affect you, whether you like it or not. Surround yourself with quality people who make you feel valued and who inspire you to be your best self. Make time in your life to sit with your friends and loved ones (no phones!).

If people who you’d like to invest more time in this year are already coming to mind, awesome! If, however, you’re feeling a little bit of a community deficit, we may be able to help. We do a bunch of group activities at VCWC so you can meet like-minded people. And, if you just need someone to talk to, our dedicated therapists are always here for you!

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Don’t neglect it! These tips will help you support your mental health, but everyone’s different. Find what works for you and stick with it! And if you want help becoming your mentally healthiest self in 2019, don’t hesitate to contact our caring team at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center.