January is Mental Wellness Month. Think of mental wellness as preventative measures and strategies for emotional and mental health. It’s more than the absence of mental illness; and it’s something that we continually work to maintain, rather than a fixed state.

 

Working towards mental wellness can be achieved by the sum of many small acts; similar to how it takes regular good habits to maintain physical wellness. Focusing on the following areas can help you maintain wellness:

 

• Self-appreciation - Recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Your personality, talents, gifts and limits are unique to you. Awareness of your strengths brings about confidence, and awareness of your weaknesses helps you identify areas for growth and allows you to set healthy boundaries.

 

• Resilience - your ability to cope with and recover from life’s curve balls. Factors that affect resilience are keeping your experiences in perspective, finding positive meaning in life, practicing self-care and maintaining humor.

 

• Develop and maintain a support network. Allowing yourself to get close to other people and sharing in the give-and-take of friendships helps to build a more supportive social network.

 

• Keep an open mind that you don’t have all the answers yourself – none of us do! Having the attitude that it’s ok not to know it all allows you to learn from others and grow in unexpected ways.

 

• Mind your body. You live in your body – and “you” includes your brain, mind and emotions.  All forms of physical exercise, stretching, drinking enough water, eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep are important to maintain mental wellness.

 

• Curiosity and leisure activities (think: fun!) are two more distinct tools to improve mental wellness. What do you want to learn? What do you love to do? Whether it’s reading a good book, playing the piano or gardening, these activities are good for your brain and your emotional health.

 

The key to sustained mental wellness is turning these positive skills into habits by regular practice. January is the month many of us make intentions for the New Year. If you are making a list, a good place to start is learning and practicing skills for better mental wellness.

 

Claire is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with expertise in body-oriented psychotherapy.  She works as a Behavioral Health/EAP Consultant, providing workplace consultations to employers and assessment and referrals to clients.