Prioritizing Mental Health for the New Year

About the authors: This column was written by professionals at the Human Services Center in Yankton.

New Year’s resolutions are something that many people make, and seemingly almost as many fall short of holding to them over the entire year. Instead of focusing on traditional resolutions like losing weight or achieving career milestones, prioritizing our mental well-being can lead to more meaningful and long-lasting changes. We suggest you use this time of “resolutions” to lay a foundation for future success and happiness instead of the “one-and-done” attempts that often leave us feeling frustrated and defeated. Here are some helpful tips to get you moving in the right direction. Think one foot in front of the next. Remember, it’s a continuous and ever-evolving practice! No failures, just learning and growing!

Self-care: Self-care goes a long way in maintaining mental health. It is something that is needed daily. Prioritizing sleep is a must; make sure you are getting an adequate amount of sleep every night. This will help the mind relax and be fully charged to take on the day! Exercising is another important activity that will help with self-care, even if it is walking for 20 minutes a day to get the muscles moving. Social connections and talking to friends and family to check in with one another does better than you think! Setting healthy boundaries is another thing we often overlook. This might mean saying no to activities or people that drain you of your joy and energy. Setting these limits can prevent burnout and protect your emotional well-being.

Practice Mindfulness: Even if it is for five minutes a day of meditation or relaxation of the mind, it is proven to help reduce anxiety, achieve/maintain an inner calm in our lives, and increase our self-awareness. Listening to music, sitting in the dark with your eyes closed, taking deep breaths in and out, and praying are some examples of things you could do to create a low-stimulus and mindful atmosphere. Practicing gratitude daily is a surefire way to keep your mind in a positive space and can help keep you grounded.

Get off technology: Stop scrolling and take a break from social media. Use other outlets and resources to pass the time. Engage in other activities, such as walking, socializing, yoga, or getting outside for some fresh air. Finding a healthy hobby or two can provide great accomplishment and fulfillment while providing a healthy escape from our daily stressors!

Get help when it is needed: Everyone experiences times in their life when it feels nothing is helping them. Everything is going wrong. Contact your loved ones, friends, and mental health professionals to help you through those tough times. Don’t try to take it on alone; there are plenty of people out there who are willing to help you! Please do not be afraid to reach out for help, YOU MATTER!

Call, text, or chat with a professional counselor for free by dialing 988 or visiting helplinecenter.org/988.

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The mission of the Human Services Center is to provide individuals with a mental health and/or substance use disorder with effective, individualized professional treatment, enabling them to achieve their highest level of personal independence in the most therapeutic environment.

The mission of the Division of Behavioral Health is to support quality clinical treatment, recovery supports, prevention and crisis services with integrity to obtain positive outcomes for individuals with behavioral health needs.

To read previous editions of the Mental Health Memo visit https://dss.sd.gov/keyresources/news.aspx#mhmemo