EDITORIAL

Resolutions you can keep

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Eighty percent. That’s what U.S. News & World Report says is the number of New Year’s resolutions that fail by the middle of February. So chances are, don’t clear your schedule too much for those morning runs you’ve planned, or to head out to that organic grocery store you’ve always avoided.

But there are some resolutions that are worth making — and keeping. And they are not only realistic, according to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, they can really make your life better.

First and foremost, make time for self-care. We spend much of our time worrying about everyone else, but never enough time thinking about what we need for ourselves. It’s a lesson that should be reinforced every time we step on an airplane — if oxygen masks drop, secure your own before helping someone with theirs.

At the same time, we need to be kind to ourselves. We are our own worst critic, and if things go wrong, we blame ourselves first. But don’t be afraid to also praise yourself when you accomplish something good. Like, say, making time for self-care.

Make sleep a priority. Easier said than done as the allure of the glowing screens from our smartphones cost us precious minutes, and hours.

That said, limit that screen time. Fold that laptop up. Throw your phone in a drawer. That email, or even that Facebook post? It can wait until tomorrow.

And, most importantly, learn more about mental health. That’s essential, the mental well-being council says, because knowing what good mental health is makes it easier to discover when something is not so good.

It’s always good to set goals. Just make sure they are realistic. You won’t cure cancer or solve hunger. But you can certainly brighten someone’s day — or even your own — by simply being there, and being yourself.

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New Year's Day resolutions, National Council for Wellbeing,

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