What better time to start prioritizing your mental health than January? The new year is often a reset, a time to start fresh and new. Mental health new year’s resolutions could arguably be more important than many others.
Mental health is the cornerstone of physical and emotional health. If you’re struggling with your mental health, you’re likely struggling in your body and spiritual health too. And if you want to ensure solid and thriving relationships, it’s crucial to care for your mental health first.
At some point in life, everyone struggles with some emotional health concern in one way or another. It’s certainly not uncommon. But if your emotional health concerns lead to serious mental health concerns, you’ve got a problem. Left untreated, feelings like depression or anxiety can fester and disrupt your relationships, work or school performance, and health.
And what happens when a significant life event occurs that genuinely challenges your mental health? To ensure you can get through such challenges without significant mental health decline, you want to ensure you care for your mental health as much as possible ahead of time. In other words, even as a teen or young adult, it’s essential to prioritize your mental health.
5 Mental Health New Year’s Resolutions
The idea of sticking to a New Year’s resolution may seem daunting, especially as a teen or young adult. You have enough to worry about, right? Sometimes making yourself a priority is overlooked in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Whether your self-care is relatively routine or non-existent, there are always ways to improve it. Let’s look at some tips for staying on track and prioritizing your mental health in this new year.
1.Get the Mental Health Treatment You Need Now and Not Later
If you keep thinking about getting help, it’s time to take action and begin your journey to a better you. Don’t put it off or push it aside. Remember that your mental health trickles into every aspect of your life. Whether you’re a young adult or teen or concerned for a loved one, getting specialized professional mental health treatment for teens or young adults in Lombard can be found at Dayrise Wellness.
We can help with almost any mental health disorder adolescents and emerging adults face and ensure a treatment plan unique to your teen’s needs.
Our job is to support your or your child’s mental health in and out of therapy sessions. We provide you with all the necessary resources for making your young adult’s mental health and well-being a priority. We will provide you with the appropriate tools at home for taking action to ensure progress and navigate their challenges by their side.
At Dayrise Wellness in Lombard, we are committed to providing the most clinically proven young adult mental health support. Our providers are compassionate and experienced and offer top-notch effective treatments to meet our clients wherever they are on their healing journey.
2.Make Time For Rest
Sleep deprivation is common in teens and young adults. Over a third of young adults only get five to six hours of sleep per night, not the recommended nine hours for optimal health. Mental health illnesses such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, and bipolar disorder can be exacerbated by poor sleeping habits.
Getting help to regulate sleep can help improve your teen or young adult’s mental health. Even small changes can drastically change sleep habits for the better.
Here are some ways to ensure your teen or young adult can rest more easily:
- get enough exercise
- reduce screen time an hour or two before bed
- go to bed at the same time each night
- use essential oils like lavender that promote sleep and relaxation
- practice sleep meditation or deep breathing
- journaling
- taking a relaxing bath before bed
3.Exercise
Yes, we know we said prioritizing mental health may be your son or daughter’s most important new years resolution. We didn’t say exercise, so why are we mentioning it now? The truth is that mental health and physical activity often go hand in hand.
The discipline required to stay committed to regular exercise is a mental challenge. Even if you only exercise for a very short amount of time, it still releases endorphins, which make you feel better. These naturally-occurring hormones are often referred to as nature’s painkillers and are a natural way to help reduce depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms.
Exercise releases these precious feel-good hormones, and the time spent exercising is also a time for your mind to wander, process, and heal.
4.Take Measures to Reduce Stress
Prolonged stress causes both chemical and physical changes in the brain. These changes lead to a rise in cortisol and the release of adrenaline. These releases can contribute to physiological effects such as:
- rapid heart rate
- high blood pressure
- weakened immune system
- stomach ulcers
- stroke
- asthma
- heart disease
Besides the physical effects of stress, it also contributes to several mental and emotional disorders, such as:
- anxiety
- phobias
- panic attacks
High levels of emotional stress can make it difficult to focus, remember things, or think clearly. Stress can also cause you to become irritable and easily frustrated with others and lead to anger, depression, insecurity, and overall relationship problems.
Young adults have so many responsibilities between school, work, and future expectations. But there are measures you can take to reduce everyday stress.
Try practicing the following:
- breathing and focus exercises
- meditation
- take “you time” (even if it’s 15 minutes)
- get outside in nature
- practice saying “no” (see below)
- go for a swim or take a bath
- cuddle with a loved one or pet
5.Learn to Say NO!
Let’s face it; for many people saying “no” to activities and potential commitments can be pretty challenging. So many of us struggle with people-pleasing, and it usually starts at a young age. Constantly saying “yes” to everyone and everything can lead to burnout, stress, and even resentment.
This weighs on mental health and adds to everyday stress. Whether you are a parent looking out for a teen or you are a teen or young adult, it’s never too early to start exploring how to set boundaries. Most of us have picked up the idea that saying “no” is a bad thing, but in reality, it’s a great act of self-care and an excellent way to prioritize your mental health and well-being.
Prioritize Mental Health This Year and Beyond With Therapy for Young Adults in Lombard, IL
Whatever you decide will help you prioritize mental health, make sure you include it in your daily routine. At Dayrise Wellness, we can help your son or daughter choose and stick to healthy ways to prioritize mental health. We offer therapy for teens in Lombard, IL, and therapy for emerging adults.
At Dayrise Wellness, our sole focus is providing top-notch therapy for young adults and teens in Lombard, IL. We understand the challenges the younger generations face today and how the pressures and circumstances of life can lead to mental health struggles.
But we also know precisely how to help them. We tailor your teen or young adult’s treatment to meet their needs and arm them with the tools and strategies they need to face and overcome their challenges. We’re ready to help your child prioritize their mental health this year and set them up for a successful, fulfilling future.
It’s never too early to prioritize your mental health. Contact us to kickstart your and your child’s mental health new year’s resolution today.
