New Year, More Self Care
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/61e8cef9c7c40ca681697aff/6264a9da3d39043bca367a9e_Ellipse%201.png)
There is nothing wrong with aspiring and affirming to be your best self. And with the new year peaking around the corner, we can all get a head start with implementing strategies that prioritize our mental health.
Self-acceptance: use the new year as an opportunity to practice self-acceptance and self-love. Self-acceptance and self-love can be practiced by forgiving yourself, exploring gratitude, exploring mindfulness, and by surrounding yourself with positive influences.
Physical activity: exercising 20-30 minutes per day can assist with reducing symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety. Schedule time for a walk outside, attend a gym session, or participate in a sport. This is a great opportunity to explore a new hobby or revisit an old hobby.
Self-care: do what helps you relax and recharge and do it often. Ensure that you make time for yourself everyday. This can be as simple as running a warm bath, lighting a candle or getting a massage.
Embrace a positive mindset: challenge negative self-talk and replace pessimistic thoughts with positive thoughts. Journaling is a great way to identify your thoughts and practice reframing them.
Stop comparing yourself to others: focus on your individual strengths, become aware of your triggers and avoid them, limit social media access.
Practice acts of kindness: join an organization that focuses on a cause near and dear to your heart.
Let go of toxic relationships that leave you feeling helpless and hopeless: remember these relationships need not only be interpersonal. Our relationship with food or social media can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless.
Helpful Resources:
- https://www.thisiscalmer.com/reignite : Learn how to identify and prevent burnout with this free, 10-week online wellbeing course.
- Mindfulness: be mindful. Live in the moment by Gill Hasson: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17472612-mindfulness
- Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40121378-atomic-habits?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_13
- Holistic self-care guided journal by Carley Schweet: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52793228-holistic-self-care-guided-journal?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Sb26VnLuoz&rank=1
- Reimagining self-care for black folks: https://mhanational.org/blog/reimagining-self-care-black-folks