The beginning of a new year can bring many major changes with it. You may have a wide range of ideas about what you want or expect those changes to be and are figuring out how to prepare accordingly. However, it’s also easy to become overwhelmed by these expectations in a way that negatively impacts your mental health. Keep these tips in mind to stay focused on what matters and maintain a positive outlook as 2023 begins:
Make plans, not resolutions: New Year’s resolutions have an infamous tendency of falling through once the new year actually begins. This often happens because resolutions indicate a wish more than a serious goal. If you truly intend to pursue a major goal next year, write out a detailed plan for achieving it, including the steps required, your expected timeframe, and any resources you may need.
Avoid dwelling on future possibilities: You may start to consider different events that may occur next year, both good ones such as being offered a new, higher-paying job, and bad ones such as the death of a loved one. Even if these events were to occur, they are only future possibilities and are outside of your control. If necessary, account for these possibilities only as part of a plan for a relevant goal; dwelling on them will only damage your mental health.
Enjoy the present moment: Other than making plans for things you would like to change, you should keep your attention on the present. The friends, loved ones, and circumstances around you may be different in the future, but you can choose to make the most of the time you have with the ones that are in your life right now and give yourself (and them) fond memories to look back on in the future.
Are you suffering from symptoms of anxiety or depression related to concerns about the new year? You can talk to a mental health professional at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Mental Health Clinic. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-5575.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.