14 Personal Resolutions That Can Help You Tend To Your Mental Health In 2019

If you're looking for a New Year's resolution that'll help you feel less stressed, we've got you.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others so much.

Getty Images

'Cause if you're spending all this time observing other people's lives and comparing yourself to them, how could you possibly figure out what makes YOU truly happy? And when will you have time to focus on your own talents and passions?

2. Stop feeling like you have to please everybody all the time.

Getty Images

You'll exhaust yourself by trying to make everyone around you happy, and chances are, only a few people's opinions are what **really** matter to you. Focus on being a giving family member and friend, but also on someone who knows how to set boundaries and take care of yourself.

3. Limit the amount of time you spend on social media.

Getty Images

At the end of the day, social media takes your attention away from living in the present, which is always what's going to be more fulfilling. Set rules for yourself, and be mindful about how much more creative and relaxed you feel when you're not endlessly scrolling into the void.

4. Or create an 'Only good vibes' feed.

Getty Images

We also know that spending less time online is easier said than done. If you absolutely can't log off, at least unfollow all the toxic people who don't do you any good, and set up a feed that makes you feel good while you're online.

5. For every negative thought you have about yourself, have two positive ones at the ready.

Getty Images

Coaching yourself to consciously choose to think positive thoughts makes all the difference. Any time you catch yourself being overly critical, try reminding yourself of two positive qualities you do have.

6. Failure and criticism may just be the best teachers you'll ever have.

Getty Images

If someone stopped to point out where you might have slipped up (albeit in a constructive way), then making the actual effort to learn from your mistakes is one of the best ways to learn. The only way to not fail or make mistakes is by doing absolutely nothing. It's the effort that counts.

7. Get in a habit of identifying what emotions you're feeling.

blog.brasilacademico.com

Paying attention to your physical and emotional state helps you tune into what stressors you might be unconsciously responding to. Does commuting home always seem to bum you out? Do you often feel angry after hanging out with that one friend? Noticing these reactions will help you better understand how to respond to both expected and unexpected annoyances in your life.

8. But also, give yourself permission to simply feel.

Dissolvegirl / Getty Images

Some days, you're just going to feel sad, and that's okay. You don't have to rush to "fix" it right away.

9. Don't overthink things to the point where it's just not helpful.

Getty Images

Rewinding and going over past events in your head is perfectly normal, but you need to set a limit on how much time you spend doing that. When the allotted time is up, busy yourself with something else — have a glass of water, take a walk. Do anything that will help you break the cycle of thoughts.

10. Get into the habit of taking care of yourself.

Getty Images

Be sure to include little tasks in your daily routine that will brighten your day. Set aside some time on your calendar to watch your favorite TV show, read a few pages of a book, enjoy a warm cup of tea or coffee, or even savor the aroma of a fresh bar of soap.

11. Make sure to practice generosity.

Getty Images

When we're going through a tough time, try doing something nice for someone else, too. You'll feel empowered with a sense of agency by sharing what you do have — whether it's time, money, resources.

12. Don't forget to breathe.

yogacalm.org

These simple words of wisdom appear in almost every mental health checklist, because they work. Stop for a moment. Close your eyes. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. This can help you to start bringing your body back to its normal rhythm.

13. Learn to assess just how important some things really are...

Getty Images

In the midst of a crisis, it can be difficult to gauge the size of our problems. But get in the habit of hitting pause and thinking as clearly as you can about it: Is the current situation really a disaster? Will it still be this important a year from now?

14. As well as the importance of staying open-minded.

Getty Images

If you can be more open with your expectations, it'll be harder for even the most negative situation to get the best of you.

15. And finally, don't forget that it takes time to heal.

Getty Images

Every minute, hour, day, month and even year that you're able to survive, even in the midst of enormous pain, is a triumph. Healing is a process, and it isn't easy, but you only have to take it one step at a time.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org.

This post was translated from Portuguese.