New Year Goals

New year goals seem to pale into insignificance after the year that has been. 2020 has been a difficult year for many world wide and in one way or another many people’s mental health has been impacted. The COVID pandemic continues with us into the new year and we are reminded “it hasn’t gone away yet”.

It is important however, to have goals you would like to achieve and things to look forward to for this coming year. This may be smaller goals that you might set for yourself such as growing some of your own food rather than going on an overseas trip. For the past 15 years Christopher A. Lowry has studied the connection between bacteria, the nervous system and emotional behaviour. Getting out there to garden may assist your mood, good bacteria found in soil may in fact activate the brain to release more serotonin which can impact the mood by making one feel more relaxed and happier, similar to the affects of an antidepressant.

Or having something to look forward to might be a more regular catch up for coffee with a special friend and being thankful that you can do this given that at times last year you weren’t able to. Being mindful and thankful for the small things can have a great impact on your overall mental health.

Remember this year to cultivate hope. Were there is hope there is a way forward. When we loose our sense of hope we can easily loose our way. Cultivating hope in the little things or big things is so important for good mental health. Being thankful you can breath, without breath you wouldn’t be alive. Being thankful that your heart is beating, without your heart beating your wouldn’t be alive. Being thankful you can eat to stay alive. Find something to be thankful for today!!

Written by Anita Baills