Prioritizing mental wellness in your New Year

It is a new year and a time to reflect on what are you taking with you from 2020 and what are you leaving behind – how are you going to take care of yourself in 2021? 

This time last year, the workplace looked very different. As corporations and businesses pivoted to accommodate health concerns surrounding COVID-19, mental health challenges increased for employers and employees. Many lost their jobs while others were forced to virtual work environments at home where they served as employees, parents, and teachers. With such unexpected significant change came depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and other adverse mental health challenges. 

According to Mental Health America, from January to September 2020, there was a 93% increase of individuals looking for help with anxiety and depression, with 8 out of 10 of these people ranging from moderate to severe in intensity. Loneliness or isolation ranked as one of the top three things contributing to mental health concerns. You are not alone. We were all impacted by 2020’s adversity, and the aftershocks will spill in 2021. What is most important now is that you utilize this new year, new slate, new opportunity to set your intentions for overcoming 2020’s residual. That starts with taking care of you, your mind, and your health. 

Here are a few tips to make your mental health a priority in the New Year: 

• Remember, we are still living in a pandemic! Be Nicer to yourself. 
• Create time for yourself daily. It is easy for us to get into the routine of doing for others (work and personal) when we wake up until we go to sleep. Carve out time to do something that you enjoy throughout the day.  
• Establish Boundaries. Many of us are working from home, and it is easy to blur the lines. Maintain a schedule for work and stick to it. Shut off your laptop, put your phone down, and “leave work,” even if you’re only changing rooms in your home 
• Educate yourself about your company’s benefits. Take the time to understand your company’s benefit programs, such as your vacation days, sick days, and EAP program. 
• Take small steps. Real change geared toward improving your mental health requires small steps and doesn’t happen overnight.  

Putting your well-being first means you will be better equipped to care for everyone else in your life and maximize your daily productivity. It is time to concentrate on rebuilding your mental health, and a New Year’s commitment is the perfect way to put that effort into action.