January is Mental Wellness Month
Everyone is guilty of not prioritizing our mental wellness at some point in our lives, but it is never too late to make improvements. So why not start this month? January is also known as Mental Wellness Month. With 2021 behind us, the new year is an blank page for you. A new year to continually grow as a person and work on the mental fog that the past few years of dealing with a pandemic have brought to us all. But this process doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time to reach and maintain place of mental wellness.
Take a deep breath and relax. Calm the countless thoughts that race through your mind and take a moment to reflect on how you manage stress. American psychologist Williams James once said “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” Easier said than done, right? Training your mind to prioritize constructive thoughts can be one of the hardest skills to master.
What Is Mental Wellness?
A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
1. Realizing Your Own Abilities
What unique perspective or skill do you bring to the world? What amazing abilities do you posses? At times we can be so focused on what we are not doing right that our positive skills don’t receive the recognition they deserve. Try to stop negative self-talk before you spiral and celebrate the small (or big!) wins you have achieved. Maybe write them down or create a vision board to remind you of your own brand of awesome.
2. Coping with Life Stress
Coping skills help you deal with stressful situations in life, but not all coping skills are created equal. It can be tempting to engage in strategies that will give quick relief but might create bigger problems for you down the road like self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. It’s important to establish healthy coping skills that will help you reduce your emotional distress or rid yourself of the stressful situations you face. Coping skills are different for every person but finding a self-care routine that works for you is key. What mood-lifting hobbies or exercises help clear the clutter in your mind? When you feel that build up of stress surround you, what positive coping skills should you turn to?
3. Work Productively and Make a Difference in Your Community
Once you have found what your special abilities are, it’s time to share it with your community! Take those passions and find people who share similar hobbies or goals. Finding a soul tribe that understands and encourages you is crucial for building a long lasting network of support. Are you an animal lover? Maybe try volunteering at a local shelter! Interested in learning more about a certain topic? Find a local course to learn more and meet like-minded people.
Wellness is something that needs to be continually worked on, it’s all about trial and error. Keep focused on your mental well-being and keep track of what emotions arise in situations. Wellness isn’t about ignoring your emotions, it is about understanding them and knowing how to deal with your emotions effectively. 2022 is your year! You’ll be amazed how far you will go in a year.
If you are someone you know are interested in receiving mental health services, visit our resource page for local behavioral health resources.
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