Muskogee Phoenix

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Resolutions to make for

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better mental health

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Jan 2.7
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National Alliance on that you can count on and
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who count on you is part
2020
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Mental Health shares of cultivating good mental
8.8 helpful goals health. These supportive
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relationships allow you to
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.6 Submitted by Jacqueline McDaniel be heard and provide an op-
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portunity for your personal
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As the new year dawns, needs to be met.
Clip 4.7 so does the hope for a better 4. Avoid drugs and alco-
resized -.6 and more prosperous year. hol. Try to avoid drugs and
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Resolutions are a popular alcohol. While using drugs
7.3 way to determine specif- or alcohol may seem appeal-
5.2 ic goals and make paths ing in the moment, they are
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toward success come into harmful to your long-term
5.2 focus. Resolutions for better mental health. Avoiding
2.7 mental health alcohol in particular can be
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Here are six simple res- challenging when socializing
3.7 olutions from the National and attending networking
2.7 Alliance on Mental Health events, so find strategies
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to make for better mental that work for you. If you do
3.8 health. use alcohol or drugs, be hon-
.6 1. Take control of your est and tell your therapist
-.5 life. There are many aspects or doctor because it affects
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6.5 of life, such as flat tires, tax- your care plan.
2.8 es, and bad haircuts, that 5. Unplug from social
-.3 cannot be avoided. However, media. Social media is a
much more of life is in our great way to stay connected
control. Take an inventory but can also create a dis-
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of your life. Think through connection. For some, social
your relationships, your media feeds only create
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career, your commitments, more anxiety or depres-
80 etc. What is life giving and sion. Comparing your life
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35 what is detrimental to your to someone else is simply
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mental well-being? Once you unrealistic. Taking a break
determine what changes you for a few hours a day might
63 want to make create small give you the time to connect
55 sustainable goals down a with others and even focus
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16 path that will take you to a on your own self-care.
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16 brighter future. 6. Stay positive. Sur-
16 2. Find a routine that rounding yourself with pos-
works for you. Everyone itive people and messages
is different and therefore makes you feel better. Think
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the things that work for one about what makes you op-
person won’t work for an- timistic and hopeful and
other. Stop trying to do what create an environment that
should work and find what supports that feeling. Do
does work for you. A healthy you love to travel? Always
diet, exercise and a normal be planning your next trip.
sleep schedule are essential Even if it’ll be several years
for good mental health. Talk away looking ahead will
with your doctor about de- bring you happiness long be-
veloping healthy habits. Be fore you head to the airport.
honest, if you hate running, Love animals? Find a local
then quit trying to be a run- shelter to volunteer at. Find
ner and take up biking or those things that make your
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vt rowing. Find a routine that day brighter and find ways
50 you look forward to and it to infuse them into your dai-
50 will be easy to keep. ly life.
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50 3. Build your support NAMI Oklahoma provides
50 network. Keeping in touch plenty of opportunities to
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50 with friends and family is a help you meet your mental
50 fundamental part of main- health resolutions from
50 taining good mental health. leading a NAMI class or
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00 Build a community of sup- attending one of our ma-
00 port that includes family, ny support groups offered
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0 friends, neighbors, co-work- across the state. Give us a
0 ers, a faith community and call, we’d love to help. Infor-
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0 people you meet through mation on NAMI Oklahoma:
0 activities and hobbies. Hav- https://www.namioklahoma.
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