New Years Day is typically a time when the whole world is focused on starting over by making New Year resolutions. But did you know New Years Resolutions Depression (NYRD) is a thing?

I awoke this morning with a sense of dread. It’s January 1st, 2020. Crawling out of bed, thankful for my sobriety, I notice how the soft light falls around the bare trees. Christmas was an especially sad time for me. Trance-like, my body walks me to the secluded wooded garden. Gently pressing my ear up against the branch of a tree, the soft, resonant sound of aliveness pulses through my ear drum.

The experience transports me back in time, and I remember the sense of deep comfort that can be found in Nature.

I wanted to write this post to help you feel understood and validated moving forward. Because I know how it feels when it seems like the whole world is fixated on resolutions and goal setting, and you’re feeling “meh”.

The truth is, New Years Resolutions are focused on making lofty, sweeping, often extreme changes that push us into feeling we are not enough.

In this post, I’ll share five heartfelt comforting tips to help you find comfort and relief so you can truly support your body and mind through the seasons.

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What is New Year Depression And How Does it Affect Us?

New Year’s depression is the phenomenon where people experience feelings of sadness and despair in the days leading up to New Year (and in the days leading up to Christmas). People with existing depression can also feel very triggered at this time.

The pressure to make New Year resolutions can exacerbate the negative self-view depression casts. While the seductive quality of starting over can bring unresolved and painful issues surrounding the year’s events to mind. Essentially, the mind gets pushed into the idea it needs to focus on fixing everything it “thinks” is wrong with you.

New Year Depression comes with its own symptoms including:

• overwhelming sadness
• thoughts of hopelessness
• an inability to enjoy anything, including food or drinks.

The effects can be dangerous because this kind of depression can affect anyone who has experienced significant stress or loss in their life.

Why Making New Year Resolutions Can Be Problematic

New Year’s resolutions are often made with the best of intentions. But trying to push for a drastic change, driven by external pressure and messaging, can have a devastating impact on our mental health.

Trying to force a sudden change in mood because societal messaging around “new year resolutions” can trigger New Years Resolutions Depression (NYRD). Generally, the resolutions we are encouraged to make are extremely ambitious and lofty. And when we are unable meet these goals we can feel disappointed, discouraged, anxious and depressed.

Five Comforting Tips To Help Combat the Stresses of the New Year and NYRD

To help you cope with the stresses of the New Year and NYRD, I’ve put together five heartfelt ways to on truly support your body and mind through the season.

The following tips are not a substitute for medical advice: these small gestures are intended help you feel more able to cope with depression during the festive season.

Comforting Tip #1: Return to Your Breath

It’s the simple things that often make the most significant difference. Breath awareness is a practice in which you stop, and pay immediate attention to your breath.

The breath is often referred to as the bridge between the mind and body. It’s essential for calming down in times of stress, panic, or anxiety. Each time you take a deep breath into your lungs, you’re taking in life-giving oxygen that helps your blood carry life-sustaining nutrients to every cell in your body

The breath can be used as a way to consciously anchor to your mind and body into the present moment, here’s how:

• Take a deep breath
• Remind yourself it’s okay to feel.
• Exhale fully, allowing yourself to drop into your whole body.

Comforting Tip #2: Practice Grounding

Grounding is a technique that involves connecting to the physical world.

Being in Nature has been known to be deeply restorative and supportive, especially when you are facing mental health concerns. With grounding, you can practice being more present and aware of the natural world. Noticing tiny signs of colour, beauty and light and help you feel connected with your natural surroundings.

Grounding is not an instant solution for depression but it does lower anxiety levels which can make you feel better in the moment.

If you are struggling right now, I’ve put together a page with a list of mental health support helplines and the Samaritans, who are available 24/7 throughout the festive and New Year season, to support anyone who is feeling down or distressed. This post also has an excellent inclusive list of support lines and services.

Comforting Tip #4: Come Home to Your Body

When you are feeling stressed it’s natural to feel physically and emotionally disconnected from your body.

Many moons ago, I discovered yoga and was introduced to some gentle practices that I continue to lean into today. One of these practices is called yoga nidra, or yogic sleep, which involves taking a mental trip around your body. This practice is deeply restorative and comforting and I’m so happy to share with you a wonderfully timely video: New Year Yoga Nidra Meditation for 2022, lead by Ally Boothroyd of Sarovara Yoga.

Comforting Tip #4: Learn to Rest Well

The world in which we live projects a lot of intense emotions into the act of taking some rest. The pressure to plan and perform in order to create happiness and success can be a dangerous mental trap.

Make it your goal to respond to the needs of your whole body with kindness.

Comforting Tip #5: Lean into your Inner Resolve

As mentioned earlier, the discovery of yoga continues to play a vital role in my recovery. Instead of goal-setting, yogis develop an awareness of their deepest heartfelt wish. Called a Sankalpa, my yoga teacher told me that this is a deeply personal, sacred vow you repeat to yourself before practicing yoga. No other person needs to know about your Sankalpa, it’s just between you and the Universe.

At the end of this post, I’d like share with you a beautiful timely video I mentioned, walking you through a guided whole-body meditation to unite you with your deepest heartfelt resolve, or sankalpa.

Brave Reminder

When everyone around you seems to be fixated on making New Year resolutions, please know: You don’t need to work on yourself a moment longer. Learn to work with yourself — the aliveness surging through you is animating your whole body. There’s nothing you need to do, fix, refine or sort out, no matter what happens: You can trust your beautiful life.

And please, if you’re experiencing feelings of distress and want someone to talk to, please call Samaritans on 116 123 – their phone lines are open all day every day over the festive period and they’re free.

Hug into your heart and look for small ways to nurture kindness towards yourself. Depression can push you into self-loathing, so please take care. When you are triggered, remind yourself that breath and connect once more with your body. Your body is not the enemy.

Please take comfort in these words from Charles Dickens:

Suffering has been stronger than any other teaching…I have been bent and broken but I hope into a better shape.

Until next time brave friend, be kind to yourself,

PS: Always remember: depression does not define you, it is a serious disease that can occur at any time, to anyone. While some people are able to manage and have functional days, others may struggle to function at all. Please if you are feeling unwell, seek immediate help and support. I’ve put together some helpful numbers here on the resources page

Recommended Resource: New Year’s Intention Yoga Nidra

Can you relate to any of the issues discussed in this post? Please share your thoughts in the comments below, it might just help someone else reading this. Or join the conversation on Instagram using #beyourownkindofbrave