Setting New Year’s resolutions is a tradition that dates back thousands of years. However, while anyone can create goals, the challenge lies in sticking to them. If you don’t set specific, realistically attainable resolutions, you could be positioning yourself for discouragement a few weeks or months from now.
Healthy New Year’s resolutions are especially vital for people in recovery from a substance use disorder and any co-occurring mental illnesses. Here are some examples of goals for the new year you can aim for.
1. Practice More Mindfulness Techniques
You have probably heard about the host of benefits meditation can bring, and perhaps you’ve even tried starting a mindfulness practice. However, some people struggle to make a daily meditation habit stick, either because they believe they don’t have time or they get frustrated when they don’t see quick results.
Fortunately, sitting quietly and focusing on your breath isn’t the only way to bring more mindfulness into your life. You can try doing daily tasks like housework, eating and driving more mindfully, concentrating on how you feel at each moment.
2. Take a Digital Hiatus
Technology has connected us with far-flung friends and loved ones and become an integral part of how many people live and work, but it has also shortened attention spans and conditioned some of us to immediately respond to the ping of an incoming text or email message.
Digital fatigue is a genuine mental health concern, and experts have warned that its effects have worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic increased our reliance on tech to communicate. If one of your goals for the new year includes being more present and aware, consider limiting your smartphone and tablet use and restricting your news consumption.
3. Create a Healthier Sleep Routine
Many people recovering from substance use and co-occurring disorders struggle with insomnia and disrupted sleep. If you have trouble falling asleep or getting a full seven to nine hours of sleep per night, your health can suffer in other ways. You can create a healthier sleep routine that helps you unwind and gives you something to look forward to by doing bedtime yoga stretches, taking a warm bath and turning your bedroom into a calming, tech-free haven.
4. Volunteer
Volunteering is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your community, making it an excellent resolution to add to your goals for the new year. Helping others will boost your mental health and let you contribute to a cause you’re passionate about, whether that’s teaching adult literacy classes, working with young children or lending a hand in a food pantry. You can even look for online volunteer opportunities to share your talents with people outside your city.
Make 2022 Your Year of Recovery
Addiction and mental health disorders like depression are chronic illnesses requiring professional treatment. If you are struggling with these conditions, set recovering your health as one of your goals for the new year. At New Found Life, we have been serving the Long Beach area since 1993, offering a comprehensive continuum of care to help people end their dependence on alcohol and drugs. Contact us today to learn more about what we can offer you.