New Year’s Resolutions and Our Mental Health by Michelle Avola-Brown,

Michelle Avola-Brown, Executive Director,
Naples Pathways Coalition

Are you planning to make any resolutions for the New Year?

How have you done in your previous attempts? If it makes you feel better, a relatively low percentage of people actually complete the resolutions they set out for at the start of the new year. However, being unable to achieve goals we set for ourselves successfully could set us up for a more profound mental impact than we might imagine. Does this mean we should forgo any self-improvement in 2024? No, but we should go about it differently and remember it’s not an all-or-nothing proposition.

We often make resolutions that are more external than internal: lose weight, save/make more money, stop smoking, drink less, travel more, etc. What if we adopt new habits to bolster our mental and emotional wellbeing instead? Improving one’s mental health has been shown to reduce anxiety, help us think more clearly, have greater inner peace, increase our self-esteem, and strengthen our relationships. With a healthier perspective, we are also better equipped to understand why we have developed negative habits and start more constructive ones.

Here’s a list I’m working on to assist with my personal growth in the coming year and beyond. Some of these may resonate with you as well.

Spend at least 10 minutes each day in prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection. Silencing our minds and dismissing distractions can be extremely challenging. However, it has been immensely rewarding when I have been consistent in this area. I’m setting a daily alarm on my phone to help me stay on track.

Do at least one tough thing every week. One of my hangups is procrastinating on tasks I either am not confident in or don’t like to do. Rather than let the dread and anxiety build, I’m going to work on tackling that big thing first. I’m already cringing, but I know how good I feel when the “thing” is done. Why would I want to put off that feeling of accomplishment?

Write in a gratitude journal. Although I try to be mindful of my blessings and thank God for them often, writing them down will give me tangible encouragement when I need it! I’m keeping my journal on my nightstand and committing to writing down at least three things I’m thankful for each night before bed.

Develop a kinder inner dialogue. I frequently encourage people around me, give genuine compliments often, and look for things to commend in those I care about, but I can be terribly mean to myself. I would never say the harsh, critical things I say to myself to anyone  else. I’m doing my best, and my self-talk needs to reflect that.

Let go of negativity. There are so many fantastic things in my life – my faith is strong, my family is healthy, I am blessed with a job I’m passionate about, I have the sweetest, big lug of dog in the world, I get to live where many people only vacation, I have a comfortable home and reliable vehicle, the list goes on! But still, it’s too easy to focus on the one thing that went wrong. I am working on acknowledging and course-correcting where needed, then quickly refocusing on the good.

Genuine self-improvement isn’t about setting a goal on New Year’s Eve and declaring it a success or a failure a month later. Forcing outward change when some internal habits or hang-ups must be addressed first will often lead to disappointment. But becoming a little better each day throughout the year and starting over when we stumble will help us grow into better versions of ourselves.

For me, 2024 is a year of breaking free from unhealthy habits in my thinking to develop a solid foundation for further personal growth for the rest of my life. That is my hope for each of you as well.

I wish you many blessings in the New Year.

For more information about Naples Pathways and our mission to create a safe, bikeable and walkable Collier County where we can all share the roads without fear, please visit www.NaplesPathways.org. Being able to enjoy outdoor recreation and fitness is vital to our mental health, and there are many ways to get involved with us.

Contact me at Michelle@NaplesPathways.org or 239.777.7718