Mental Health Minute: Starting the New Year off right

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — It’s New Year’s Eve and tomorrow is the first day of a new year, and many people see it as a fresh start, so how can you make the new beginning count? We caught up with an expert from St. Luke’s who shares tips on starting the new year on the right foot.

“Starting the new year off right” is an old cliche you may have heard before when talking about new year’s and all that comes with it. From the end of the holidays to making new resolutions there are plenty of opportunities a new year provides but sometimes having a “new year’s resolution” has a negative effect on our mental health.

“The bottom line is people bite off more than they can chew and then they fail, it’s this huge thing and it just becomes ridiculously hard,” said Laura Stewart.

Stewart, is the Employee Well-being Manager at St. Luke’s and she says instead of making a rigid new year’s resolution such as losing 100 pounds, consider this alternate approach.

“How can we thrive in 2025? One thought and idea would be to set a word and intention for the year and that’s something that speaks to you right now in your life. Maybe it’s connection, maybe it’s creativity, maybe it’s get healthy,” Stewart said.

Stewart adds that while having a word or phrase as a goal is a great start, there will still be tough days mentally, and on those days is when it can be best to take some time and step back.

“I think you need to give yourself a little grace throughout the year and say hey I’m working on this incrementally, and a word is much easier than a specific goal sometimes and it can reap more benefits than that particular goal that we may or may not succeed at,” Stewart said.

Stewart adds having a support system or friend striving toward a similar goal word or phrase can be beneficial but advises it may not be for everyone.

“I think it depends. I think some people do well with others depending on the goal they are setting for themselves or that intention and they thrive on that, but others are better independently working toward that goal or that intention it really depends on you and your personality and what fits your specific way of achieving goals,” Stewart said.

Whichever way you choose to go for your goals remember to take care of yourself physically and mentally, and have a great 2025!

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