January 7, 2019 - We’re a week into the new year! Did you make any resolutions for 2019? If you did, what did you focus on? Weight management? Fitness? Being more organized? Less busy? How about mental wellness? Often, our resolutions are focused on goals that promote wellness, but we often forget to focus on the needs of our mental health. Yet, caring for our minds is just as important as caring for our bodies!

To highlight the importance of caring for mental wellbeing, January has been named mental wellness month.January is the perfect month to focus on mental wellness! As we wrap up the holiday season and enter the cold, dark months of winter a reminder to check-in our mental health is just as important as recognizing our need to work off the holiday cookies. Here are a few tips that can get you thinking about ways to honor mental wellness month:

1. Do things that you enjoy doing. If it’s outside, added bonus for bringing yourself out into the fresh air! Not sure where to start? Make a list of things you really enjoy. Then, make a date to do these things. It doesn’t all have to happen at once, but if you make a plan, you’re more likely to follow through on your intent.
2. Connect with others. Join a book club, organize coffee dates with a good friend, volunteer, or call someone you’ve been missing. Connecting with others brings us joy, reduces stress, and promotes wellbeing through helping us stay grounded.
3. Take time for yourself. Just as it’s important to connect with others, it is important to make time for ourselves. Try to set aside time each week to recharge and focus on you. Have this time planned out and let others know that you are unavailable, especially other household members who may be tempted to join in on your “me time”.

Looking for more suggestions? Check out Mental Health America’s list of 31 tips to promote mental wellness. The best thing about any of these suggestions is that they can be done throughout the year, not just in January!

As we enter 2019, let’s remind each other about the importance of caring for ourselves inside and out. If you feel that you, or someone you know may need more support than these tips can offer, don’t be afraid to seek help. Reliance Health offers open access intake scheduling every Monday from 8am – 12pm. To connect with our programs, including therapy and medication services, meet with a clinician on Monday in our 2 Cliff Street, Norwich office. No appointment is needed. If you feel you need more immediate support, contact Mobile Outreach at (860) 886-9302.