NO RESOLUTIONS REQUIRED
By Brittney Majefski, MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Program Director, Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses
A NEW YEAR CAN BE EXCITING! Many find this as an opportunity to “start fresh” and take on new adventures in life. While each day may offer new opportunities, the New Year and idea of a “New Year’s resolution” may also be overwhelming. Resolutions and new trends are abundant in January, but these grandiose sentiments can prove taxing on our mental health.
The idea of “new year, new you” can put a lot of pressure on an individual. So, this year, rather than “new year, new you,” the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) encourages you to make small positive and personal adjustments in your lives. In research done on this very topic, the practice of adding positive approach-oriented goals vs. avoidance-oriented goals showed a higher incident of success (Oscarsson, Carlbring, Andersson & Rozental, 2020). For example, those that add something to enhance their lives (i.e. taking more walks, trying a new hobby, adding mindfulness to your day, joining a support group) and have a plan created for how they will implement these new behaviors may have greater success in sustaining these efforts (Oscarsson, Carlbring, Andersson & Rozental, 2020). Like with most goals that we aspire to reach, having a plan in place and support around us are helpful strategies that may allow for long-term success.
Give yourself the grace that as Nurses, we know you give to others every day.
Whether or not you made “New Year’s resolutions” in 2025, know that you have value, you matter and “no resolution is required” to make positive changes to your life. If you do subscribe to making resolutions, whether they are big or small, rather than say what you are not going to do, why not try to add something of value to your life to help maintain balance? This year, we invite you to also practice gratitude for who you are, what you have done and where you may go. Give yourself the grace that, as nurses, you give to others every day. If at the end of the day, you are feeling weighed down and out or sorts related to the pressure of a new year, here are some helpful resources.Whether or not you have made “New Years resolutions” this year, know that you have value—you matter and “no resolution is required” to make positive changes to your life. If you do subscribe to making resolutions whether they are big or small, rather than say what you are not going to do, why not try to add something of value to your life to help maintain balance?
This year we invite you to practice gratitude for who you are, what you have done, and where you may go. Give yourself the grace that as Nurses, we know you give to others every day. If at the end of the day, you are feeling weighed down and out-of-sorts related to the pressure of a new year, reach out for support, it is here. TN
REFERENCES:
Oscarsson, M., Carlbring, P., Andersson, G., & Rozental, A. (2020). A large-scale experiment on New Year's resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals. PLoS One. 2020 Dec 9;15(12): e0234097. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234097
NURSE SUPPORT RESOURCES
https://www.texasnurses.org/mpage/TPAPN
https://www.nih.gov/health-information/emotional-wellness-toolkit-more-resources
Brittney Majefski, MSN, RN, PMH-BC
Brittney holds a master’s degree in Nursing Education and is a certified Psychiatric Mental Health nurse. She is an experienced nurse leader, and her passion for better mental health for all guided her to her current role as program director for the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN). By working collaboratively with the Texas Board of Nursing, academic programs and healthcare facilities, TPAPN works to decrease stigma in relation to substance use disorder and mental health conditions, and increase awareness in nurse wellbeing overall.
