The New Year is here, bringing about a renewed sense of hope and health. As we kick off 2025, many people will reprioritize their fitness, their finances, and their friendships, making resolutions for the year ahead. However, an increasing number of people are also focused on their mental health this year, according to a new survey.

New findings from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) show that one-third of Americans are making a mental health related New Year’s resolution for 2025, the highest percentage seen in the history of the survey. Some have goals for meditating, spending more time outside, and attending therapy. Some are looking forward to journaling, taking a break from social media, and exercising more to support their mental well-being. 

If you are one of the many who are looking to improve your mental health this year, you may be eager yet unsure how to start. You are not alone. As a leading mental health treatment provider, Turnbridge has compiled some of our top tips for taking care of your mental health.

How to Take Care of Your Mental Health: 10 Tips

Taking care of your mental health means taking care of your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. This sounds complex, but acts of self-care can actually be quite simple. Here is some of our best advice on how to take care of your mental health and well-being:

1. Set goals. The benefits of goal-setting are vast, and especially top-of-mind this time of year. As you look to prioritize your mental health, set achievable and measurable goals for yourself. This might include setting boundaries for yourself (like saying “no” to things that might overwhelm you), or finding a therapist to meet with regularly. Decide what’s important to you and your well-being, and what can wait until a later date.
2. Stay physically active. Exercise has the power to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as improve your overall mood. Even 30 minutes of walking, spread throughout the day, can have a big impact.
3. Get adequate sleep. Sleep and mental health are intricately connected, with restful sleep contributing to improved mood, thought patterns, and a greater ability to problem-solve and cope. Depending on your age and gender, it’s recommended you get between 7 and 10 hours of sleep per night, with children needing even more.
4. Eat regular, balanced meals. Healthy eating is essential for your mental health, as it’s needed to fuel your body and brain with vitamins and minerals. Eating whole foods, including vegetables, proteins, and grains, can reduce the risk of mental health issues and contribute to a more stable state of mind overall.
5. Do something relaxing. As you head into the new year, think about what brings you peace of mind. Is it listening to music or reading a great book? Is it taking a bath or getting a massage? Perhaps it’s meditating or journaling. Whatever relaxes you, do more of it. Carving out the time to relax, and finding a regular activity that promotes relaxation, is essential for taking care of your mental health.
6. Practice gratitude. It can be easy to get caught up in negative thoughts and feelings, but practicing gratitude can be grounding and a great reminder of the positive aspects of your life. Think about what you are grateful for, every day, even if it’s something small. Write these things down so you can look back on them during difficult moments.
7. Connect with nature. Spending time outdoors can have a significant impact on your mood, energy, and overall cognitive function. Nature also offers a range of physical benefits, including promoting better sleep. As such, taking care of your mental health can be as simple as stepping outside each day.
8. Connect with others. Having a supportive network of family, friends, and community members can be pivotal in your mental health journey. Choose people who will not judge you and who you can trust. Spend time with people that bring you joy and who care about your mental well-being. If you need help, lean on them for support.
9. Get help if and when you need it. If you are unsure where to turn to for help and guidance, a counselor, therapist, or other mental health treatment specialist can be an incredible asset. Therapy is becoming more and more common, with young people especially seeing its benefits. Professional support, like a therapist, can help you identify deep-rooted traumas and triggers, develop coping strategies, increase your self-confidence, improve your relationships with loved ones, and establish a more meaningful and satisfying life.
10. Maintain a positive mindset. Focus on positivity in all that you do. While you will have hard days ahead, maintaining a positive mindset can help you get through those moments more seamlessly. In order to find this sense of positivity, though, you must know how to cope with difficult emotions and challenge unhelpful thoughts. Certain types of therapy can help with this.

Why Is It Important to Take Care of Your Mental Health?

Mental health is a critical part of your overall health and well-being. Having a good state of mental health can help you lead a meaningful and productive life. It can help you cope with stress and fear, find motivation, maintain healthy relationships, and realize your full potential.

But this is just the beginning. Mental health is so important for you to:

• Think clearly. Mental health problems can get in the way of your ability to think and make decisions. For example, anxiety can create a sense of brain fog. It can prevent you from remembering things, solving problems, making rational decisions, and even adjusting to new situations. When you feel good mentally, though, you have a greater capacity to learn, think, and adapt.
• Handle challenges that come your way. Negative thoughts and feelings are normal from time to time, even for those with good mental health! However, those with good mental health have the ability to cope with those emotions in a healthy and effective way. If you’re struggling with your mental health, it becomes difficult to navigate feelings like fear, worry, and stress—they feel all-consuming. It also makes it hard to cope with tough situations, setbacks, and transitions in life. As such, prioritizing your mental health can build the resilience you need to handle all that life throws at you.
• Maintain good self-esteem. Your self-image and self-worth are largely dependent on your mental health. When you are focused on our mental health, you are able to feel better about who you are and where you are at in life. You can recognize your potential, your strengths and talents, and have more confidence as a result. 
• Stay physically healthy. Mental health and physical health are deeply connected. When you are not feeling good mentally, you are more likely to feel fatigued and sick. You lose sleep or lose your appetite. You are more likely to develop physical conditions, including cardiovascular problems. So, taking care of your mind means taking care of your body, too. 
• Sustain your relationships. Mental health affects our ability to connect and communicate with others. When you take care of your mental health, you are more capable of being empathetic, thoughtful, and receptive to others. You are better able to control your reactions and maintain healthy boundaries. All this, in turn, can contribute to more meaningful and healthy relationships.
• Live a happy, fulfilling life. Taking care of your mental health means taking care of YOU and every aspect of your life. When you are mentally healthy, you can acknowledge and honor all your emotions, both good and bad. You can find gratitude in everyday things. You can incite motivation and maintain a positive outlook. This will carry through to your behaviors, your social life, your physical health, your profession, and more. 

Are You Ready to Take Care of Your Mental Health?

Taking care of your mental health doesn’t need to start on New Year’s Day – It can start right now. Little acts can add up and make a major difference in your life. By prioritizing connection, gratitude, relaxation, and your physical health, you can significantly improve your mental health, too.

Your mental health should never take a backseat. If you are facing symptoms of mental health problems, and need someone to turn to for help, know that Turnbridge is here for you. We are a recognized mental health treatment provider, helping teenagers and young adults get through some of their darkest days. And we are just one call away. 

Contact us at 877-581-1793 to speak with a treatment specialist today.