Mental health expert talks about New Year’s Resolutions and mental health

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The new year is just around the corner and people are setting their New Year’s resolutions.

We’re about to enter into a new year, and with the celebration of 2025 comes the annual New Year’s resolutions. FOX23 reached out to citizen journalists through the NOW local news app to hear what you want to add or change in your life.

“For my 2025 New Year’s resolution, I plan on reading the bible to start out my day, five days a week out of seven and start my day off right,” Jill said.

“My New Year’s resolution for 2025 is that I’d like to start going to church more,” Ty said.

“I would like to focus more on my health and self-care and making time for myself and my family, friends, and significant other,” Kate said.

Clinical psychologist Paul Hokemeyer said therapists love and hate New Year’s resolutions.

“We love them because people are thinking about how to be better in the New Year,” he said. “What we hate is when people set up expectations for themselves that are too ambitious, that are too extreme, and most importantly, that are based on other people’s expectations of who they should be in the world.”

Hokemeyer said social media can influence people to set unrealistic goals for themselves — these may revolve around physical appearance or materialistic things.

“I find it damaging when people set up expectations that are unrealistic and that don’t represent who they are in the world,” he said.

For those planning out a New Year’s resolution, Hokemeyer suggests people consider their personal values and focus on quality rather than quantity.

“Instead of saying, I want to lose 20 pounds this year, say I want to feel better in my skin — I want to feel better in my clothes. I want to exercise three times a week, but not because I want to look like this person on Instagram — because I want to feel better,” he said.

Hokemeyer said mental wellness comes from having a positive relationship with yourself, others, and your environment.

“Cultivating quality healthy relationships in those three areas are healthy, constructive ways to set up New Year’s resolutions,” he said.