Revolting Against Resolutions

So it’s the 4th of January and there is absolutely no need to worry if you have broken your New Year’s resolution.

A New Year resolution could do you more harm than good, according to Britain’s Leading mental health charity Mind. Mind’s Chief Executive Paul Farmer says:

"New year's resolutions can sometimes focus on our problems or insecurities such as being overweight, feeling unhappy in our jobs or feeling guilty about not devoting enough time to friends and family throughout the year. We chastise ourselves for our perceived shortcomings and set unrealistic goals to change our behaviour, so it's not surprising that when we fail to keep resolutions, we end up feeling worse than when we started.”

Instead of making easily broken resolutions, Mind has suggested a few simple steps to take throughout the year to boost all-round mental health in 2009:

• Being active - exercise releases endorphins, and is proven to be beneficial for your mental wellbeing.
• Going green - evidence shows that connecting with nature boosts your mood.
• Trying something new - it will keep your mind stimulated and give you confidence in your abilities.
• Giving back to your community - it can be just as rewarding for yourself as those you choose to help.

In 2009, instead of making a New Year's resolution, think positively about the year to come and what you can achieve.

Tags: New Year's resolution, habits, happiness, plan