A note from one of our student interns as we continue on in 2023.

As we have entered the New Year we take a look back on the goals we accomplished in 2022, the failures we learned from and we try to prepare for a fresh start with new beginnings.  New beginnings can be nerve wracking. We are afraid of the unknown that comes with the New Year. Will I reach my goals? Will I stick to my New Year’s resolution? Will I get that call back for the job I applied for? Not only does the New Year signify our resolutions and celebrations, but also our motivation and what we are going to do to get to where we want to be. But in order to get there, we need to prepare to be the best version of ourselves and that starts with your mental health. 

It has been almost three years since the COVID-19 pandemic began and we are still trying to get back into a normal routine. Whether it be going back to school or work, it can be really tough. It is all still new. Since the pandemic everyone’s mental health has been at an all time low. Isolation can take a major toll on your mind and now that we’re starting to become comfortable living in a pandemic, the conversation on mental health still needs to be present. 

When I was coming out of isolation and starting to see friends and family again, I was so eager to finally get to be around everyone that I struggled with knowing how to act. I was stuck in my house, hanging out in my sweatpants and sweater, binge watching Netflix, experimenting with Tik Tok trends for well over a year. That was all I had known for quite some time. I am still dealing with mental health and social issues from being isolated for so long, and it is not just me. As a college student, who has just completed all of her academic studies from her bedroom I can see it in my peers, my family and my co-workers. We are all still trying to come back to the norm we remembered before COVID-19. We’re all just so used to waking up in the clothes we slept in, opening our laptops and starting our day from bed. There wasn’t that obligation for social interaction or to get dressed everyday and as much as everyone looks forward to this it can be an adjustment returning back to work or school. 

Now that we’re in 2023, COVID-19 is further behind us and now part of our “new normal,” I am feeling hopeful. I am hopeful students will get the opportunity to go into school and create those meaningful connections that I missed out on. I am hopeful students will be able to get the in person co-op experience that I was just screaming for my first year of college. I am hopeful for my friends, family and co-workers that 2023 will be filled with success and happiness as long as we take the necessary steps to prepare our mental health for the new year. Partnering my recent experience in the Staffing Industry with the thoughts of a fellow student I have collected a few tips from Jenna Troughton, a Mental Health Advocate Student from Nippissing University, on taking a mental health temperature check as we enter 2023!

Create A Routine
 It is important to create a routine to help us with our time management and organizational skills. With an effective and consistent routine we can stay on top of tasks and reach our goals faster in 2023. A routine can greatly improve our mental health, reducing stress giving more time for relaxing. By ensuring you have a set sleep schedule will help maintain mental sharpness and emotional well-being.
 

Journaling

Can be an important tool to use when it comes to maintaining your mental health. Journaling allows you to reflect on your thoughts and emotions and take a deeper dive into how you are feeling, learning from what you put on paper. If putting your thoughts and emotions down on paper sounds like it may help, journaling is a great option for you in 2023. 

Eat Healthy 

Eating healthy is especially valuable when it comes to maintaining good mental health. When we fuel our bodies with junk food we are tired, less motivated and more likely to make the wrong decisions. By maintaining a healthy diet it can help us think more clearly, boosting our productivity in 2023. 

Workout 

Working out is crucial when it comes to maintaining good mental health. Getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day, even if it is just a walk around the block, can improve a variety of things in your life. This includes your quality of sleep, mood and it will help to increase mental alertness. Becoming more active in 2023 will ring in the near year on a healthy note!   

But…

None of this will matter if you can not create some room for patience in 2023. Patience is how we are going to reach our goals in the New Year. With patience we can learn from our mistakes and maintain our eagerness to be successful. Each and everyone of us faces our own challenges big and small each and every year and you just never know what someone is going through. These are not resolutions. You do not set them and forget them, or break them on your first day and forget. Be patient with yourself and when you fall off track, hop back on as fast as you can without repercussions on yourself. So practice patience; reach out to those you know who are struggling with mental health issues and bring all of your love into 2023. The world is much bigger than just one person, we all need to work together to make it a peaceful place for everyone in the upcoming new year.

-Samantha Porter, Onboarding Specialist, Better Together Group.
Georgian College Student, Intern.