Local Expert: Keep New Year’s Resolutions Obtainable

Starting to think about a New Year’s Resolution? A local expert said it is important for your mental health to keep it realistic.

Volunteer Behavioral Health Care Director Ann Stamps said failing to meet your resolution can cause a decline in your self esteem, as well as anxiety and depression. Stamps said it is important to make sure you are making a reasonable resolution.

“Sometimes when we make resolutions we kind of shoot for the starts right, and that’s not really how life is,” Stamps said. “So, one of the things we need to remember when we make New Year’s resolutions is to make our goals attainable.”

She said being successful on your resolution can have a positive impact on your mental health. Stamps said it is important to start small with resolutions. She said that means instead of saying you are going to exercise every day, start with two or three days a week.

“Then you can build upon that as you start those first steps, but you always want to make sure you allow some flexibility in there,” Stamps said.

Stamps said if you feel like you have failed at your resolution, it is not the be all and end all.

“Be proud of your successes,” Stamps said. “No matter how small they are. Any improvement is wonderful. There’s just going to be sometimes where you are not going to be able to fulfill that resolution at 100 percent, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on it.”

Stamps said that she suggests focusing your resolution on improving your mental and physical health.

“If it’s a resolution about our physical health or metal health or spending more time with out family,” Stamps said. “Maybe we are going to practice more gratitude toward others. Maybe we are going to realign our budget issues. Then, that’s going to make us feel really good, and like I said earlier, then you can build upon that as you start those first steps.”

Stamps said a good resolution this year would be to take care of yourself so you can take care of others.