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from the activities that nurture our minds and bodies.

Of course, breaking bad habits is easier said than done. The approach depends on the severity of the issue.

For less severe habits, like excessive social media use, pinpoint triggers and substitute with healthier alternatives.

For instance, if boredom prompts a two-hour social media scroll, create a list of positive alternatives — like listening to music or taking a walk on the beach — to redirect your focus.

However, when a bad habit evolves into a full-blown addiction, the situation becomes more complex.

If, for example, you’re downing six beers nightly to cope with work-related anxiety, seeking therapeutic intervention from a mental health professional is crucial for maintaining sobriety.

Whether struggling with a bad habit or a strong addiction, research emphasizes that freedom is more attainable with support. Engage friends, family or a trusted therapist. A robust body of research suggests that the accountability of a supportive relationship is the most important aspect of long-term recovery.

Fuel your mental health with healthy eating

Poor eating habits contribute to cardiac issues, diabetes, obesity and cancer. And a mental health reset also demands a focus on healthy eating habits.

Our emotional well-being is intuitively wired to the food we consume.

Those who include fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet report fewer mental health problems.

Conversely, individuals consistently consuming processed foods like chips and snacks face a higher incidence of depression, anxiety and stress.

So, embrace healthier eating habits for a genuine mental health boost.

Loosen the grip of stress

Chronic stress can have devastating mental health consequences, paving the way for developing diagnosable issues like anxiety, depression and a host of physical ailments such as heart disease, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancer.

To kickstart a mental health factory reset this year, it’s crucial to tackle stress head-on.

Stress often stems from a negative mindset, but the initial step in effective stress management is mastering the art of calming both your brain and body.

Enter powerful tools like progressive relaxation and mindfulness. These techniques create a relaxation response in your body that is incompatible with the over-activation of the stress response.

Incorporating daily practices of these techniques, coupled with deep breathing exercises, trains your body to manage stress effectively.

Embark on a quest for meaning and purpose

Jumpstarting your mental well-being in the new year starts with a laser focus on finding purpose and meaning in your life. At its core, our actions are fueled by purpose — the meaning that breathes life into our very existence.

It’s truly astonishing what we can achieve as humans when we pinpoint our “calling.”

Answering the question “why am I doing this?” essentially establishes your personal life mission, providing the fuel to persevere through tough times and cultivate resilience against the inevitable hurdles 2024 may bring.

Research supports this notion strongly. Those with a powerful sense of purpose are not only more likely to attain profound well-being but are also actively more engaged in their goals, finding satisfaction in family, relationships, and careers.

Shift to positivity: Erase negative mindsets

In your mental health factory reset for the new year, there’s an important strategy: ditch the negative mindset.

Decades of clinical research affirm that negative emotions like depression, anxiety and stress are all rooted in unhealthy thoughts that create and sustain toxic emotions.

If you’re serious about reclaiming your true self, the person you were created to be, it’s imperative to overwrite these with positive, healthy thoughts about your future.

Again, this is easier said than done. Years of exposure to toxic people and traumatic experiences have etched those negative mindsets deep.

Yet, breaking free is possible. Research advocates vigilance over your thought life, especially amid negativity.

In the new year, commit to hitting pause whenever negativity creeps in.

Take a moment to jot down your thoughts and evaluate their origin — are they stemming from old negative mindsets or nurturing healthy thoughts that drive peace and joy.