During the holiday season at the tail end of 2022, members of the Jmac team shared their mental health commitments for the new year. Now, in honor of Mental Health Month, we checked back in with the team on how those commitments have been going, and how they plan to continue taking care of their mental health in the rest of 2023. We hope these responses inspire you to make your mental health the best it can be!
audree hernandez, account executive
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment from the new year, and how are you feeling about it?
I have picked up my camera more and spent more time on my art skills, but as for self portraits…well, that’s still in the works, at least the type I envisioned at the new year. Though I feel like in my own way, I have more silly pictures of myself on my phone than ever before. I feel like this commitment is my go-to for everything, my highs and lows.
What commitment would you like to make in supporting your mental health in the rest of 2023?
This sounds kind of cheesy, but I want to be sure I’m keeping in mind my physical health as well. Instead of being lazy and sleeping all day, I want to go out for a walk and have a nice meal out, or maybe if I’m feeling sick, take that time to really rest. I think my mind is very in tune with my body, and I want to give it the same priorities to grow.
elena lopez, account executive
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment from the new year, and how are you feeling about it?
My mental health is in a much better place than it was a year ago, so I would say that overall I’ve done a pretty good job of keeping my commitment to improving it. I was normally the type of person to bottle everything up and not be as open or communicative about my feelings. This new year I promised myself that I would work on changing this behavior, and so far I think I’ve been successful at it!
What commitment would you like to make in supporting your mental health in the rest of 2023?
I would still like to find a therapist that I feel is the right fit for me. It would also be pretty cool to go on a mental health retreat or two!
farah k. reid, special projects
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment from the new year, and how are you feeling about it?
I have not been consistent with my mental health commitment but recently have gotten back on track, and it has been extremely helpful.
What commitment would you like to make in supporting your mental health in the rest of 2023?
To be more aware of my values.
casey burke, content writer
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment from the new year, and how are you feeling about it?
My goal was to start every day with a tall glass of water and a short walk outside, and I’ve done that maybe 75% of the time. Gonna stick with it!
What commitment would you like to make in supporting your mental health in the rest of 2023?
I want to focus on getting better sleep: going to bed earlier, staying asleep, and waking up at (mostly) the same time every day.
monica iriarte, human resources
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment from the new year, and how are you feeling about it?
I haven’t. The year began and has continued with a great deal of expectation and stress. Parental health, travel that did not go according to plan, death of a friend, and addiction issues coming to a head. And that’s half of it. It’s frustrating but I had some realizations this past weekend and I’m aware of where I need to make changes.
What commitment would you like to make in supporting your mental health in the rest of 2023?
Calming the clutter: physical, emotional, etc.
sebastian moradi, account supervisor
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment from the new year, and how are you feeling about it?
I’ve been working on spending more time in improving my mental health, which allowed me to have breakthroughs that I haven’t been able to make since now.
What commitment would you like to make in supporting your mental health in the rest of 2023?
I will work on finding the right help in healing and promoting my mental health. Because, just as we pay attention to the health of our physical body, we should also pay equal attention to the mind.