With the recent holiday season behind us, many people are looking towards the year ahead as a time for positive change. For this positive change, people often focus on physical or professional goals. However, people can also set goals for improving their mental health.
In the post below, we cover how setting goals for improving one's mental health can be beneficial for almost everyone. We then discuss methods that people can use to improve their mental health and reasonable goals related to those methods. Lastly, for people who cannot overcome their mental health challenges on their own, we detail how people can get the help they need through behavioral health professionals.
Why setting goals for your mental health is important
Mental health issues can affect anyone, even people one least expects. Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, have been on the rise in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many people are facing new challenges to their mental health. By taking action and setting goals for improving mental health, people can take a structured approach to let go of bad habits and mindsets they had in 2020 to build a happier, healthier, and more productive 2021.
When people do not take action to manage their mental health conditions or seek the treatment they need, their mental health conditions often worsen. Worsening mental health can lead to severe impacts on an individual’s personal and professional relationships. In some cases, mental health conditions can lead to instances of self-harm and suicide.
Journal for at least five minutes each day
One common method for improving mental health is journaling. People often journal for depression and anxiety management. When a person journals, they write down their thoughts, concerns, and sources of stress. Specific writing points for journaling include:
- Writing about what one can do to address sources of stress.
- Writing about what they can do if events they are worrying about occur.
- Detailing aspects of life for which one is grateful.
This activity can help people improve their mental health by encouraging people to think slowly and carefully about their current situations. In many cases, journaling sessions help people realize that some of their thought patterns and behavioral cycles are unnecessary and unhelpful to their overall well-being.
An excellent starting goal for journaling is to write for just five minutes a day. As people become more accustomed to journaling, they may journal for fifteen minutes a day or more. However, note that being consistent with daily journaling for anxiety management is often more important than the amount of time one spends journaling each day.
Limit social media use to under an hour a day
Social media platforms are a part of almost every aspect of our lives. While they provide useful tools to connect with friends and family, social media platforms can contribute to mental health challenges when people use them excessively. Social media can lead to people feeling depressed and having low self-esteem when they compare their lives to the lives of other people they see online. Additionally, people can develop social media addictions and use the platforms compulsively, despite negative repercussions to work performance and their relationships.
To help ensure that people maintain healthy relationships with social media, people can set a goal of using social media for under an hour each day in 2021. Limiting social media use can help people focus on the present moment and regard social media as only a communication tool. There are a variety of applications people can use to monitor social media usage, and some phone and desktop applications can even block a person’s access to social media platforms if the individual exceeds their daily limits.
Take time to exercise for at least 30 minutes per day
Exercise is essential to maintaining our physical health, and it is also vital to maintaining our mental health. When people exercise, the physical activity promotes the body to release endorphins, which are hormones that result in people feeling good and having a positive outlook. Additionally, exercising can help develop one's self-esteem and lead to high-quality sleep.
Setting a goal of at least 30 minutes per day of exercise helps ensure that one is active long enough to realize positive physical and mental health benefits. Importantly, 30 minutes of exercise does not mean that people have to exhaust themselves in the gym. Going on a walk or playing your favorite sport counts as exercise, too.
Sign up for volunteer work once a month
Another great way to improve one's mental health is by signing up for volunteer work. Volunteering allows a person to find purpose through helping others, and this positive interaction with other people can be extremely beneficial for one's mental well-being. When people volunteer, they often make new friends and enjoy social interactions with new people. Additionally, when people volunteer, they often benefit from focusing on the task at hand rather than sources of stress in their lives.
To improve your mental health in 2021, set a goal to participate in a volunteering engagement at least once a month. These engagements can be informal, such as helping a senior citizen buy groceries and stay safe during COVID-19. People can also enroll in formal volunteer programs at nearby soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and hospitals.
Accessing behavioral health treatment at Reno Behavioral Healthcare Hospital
While setting the above goals can help many people manage their mental health, many other people will need additional help. Fortunately, treatment programs for mental health challenges exist, and people can benefit significantly from the help of behavioral health professionals. If individuals are unable to manage their mental health on their own, they should seek treatment. Mental health issues that people leave unaddressed often worsen over time.
At Reno Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, our team understands that many people are overwhelmed by their mental health conditions and cannot manage their conditions on their own. These conditions may stem from depression and new year’s resolutions, new year's resolutions and anxiety, post-holiday depression, and a range of other challenges.
For those individuals, we offer a range of evidence-based behavioral health programs, including adult inpatient programs, outpatient programs, and youth mental health programs. Our evidence-based programs help people get in control of their mental health and achieve lasting behavioral change.
Getting started at Reno Behavioral Healthcare Hospital
To get started at Reno Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, contact us online or call our team at (775) 393-2201. Our team is happy to help answer any questions you may have about our facility and treatment programs. Additionally, a team member can help schedule a free mental health assessment for you or a loved one. The results of the free mental health assessment allow our team to understand the patient's needs and start building a customized treatment program.