By Jeanni Ritchie
January arrives carrying a lot of pressure. New year, new goals, new habits, new you. Everywhere we look, we’re told this is the month to fix what’s broken, conquer what’s been neglected, and overhaul our lives with bold resolutions and ironclad discipline.
But January is also Mental Wellness Month, and that distinction quietly invites a different approach—one rooted less in reinvention and more in care.
Mental wellness isn’t built overnight, and it isn’t sustained by willpower alone. It’s shaped by consistency, compassion, and the small, often overlooked joys that help regulate our nervous systems and steady our minds. While resolutions tend to aim for big outcomes, mental wellness thrives on manageable moments.
Small joys matter because they are accessible. Not everyone can start a new workout regimen, change careers, or transform their diet in the middle of winter. But most people can step outside for five minutes of sunlight. They can play a favorite song. They can light a candle, sip something warm, or laugh at a familiar TV show. These moments may seem insignificant, but neurologically, they’re powerful.
Our brains are wired to respond to safety and pleasure. Small joys send signals of stability, telling the body, You’re okay right now. Over time, these signals help reduce stress hormones, ease anxiety, and prevent emotional burnout. Mental wellness isn’t about ignoring hard things—it’s about giving your system enough calm to face them.
Resolutions often fail because they rely on motivation, which fluctuates. Small joys succeed because they rely on habit and permission. They don’t demand perfection or long-term commitment. They simply ask you to notice what brings you a sense of comfort, peace, or delight—and to let yourself have it without guilt.
I’ve worked hard to convince myself that small joys are not only okay—they’re vital to my mental well-being. There was a time when I wrote for eighteen hours a day, my mind still trying to organize dreams into stories even as I slept. My brain didn’t truly rest until I gave myself permission to wind down with light TV before bed, allowing it to step out of creator mode and finally power down.
There are other things that bring me immeasurable joy: a Chuck E. Cheese wall filled with photos of my grandkids, travel souvenir stickers, and new stuffed animals. Never a hat girl, I’m now the proud owner of sixteen baseball caps and beanies from places I’ve visited. Small items. Big joy.
For some, joy looks like movement: a short walk, stretching, or dancing in the kitchen. For others, it’s rest: a nap, a warm bath, or an early bedtime. It might be creativity, conversation, prayer, journaling, or time with a pet. The key isn’t what the joy is—it’s that it’s yours.
January can be especially hard for mental health. Shorter days, colder weather, financial stress after the holidays, and post-seasonal letdown all collide at once. Expecting yourself to thrive under pressure without replenishment is unrealistic. Choosing small joys isn’t settling—it’s sustaining.
Mental Wellness Month reminds us that tending to our minds doesn’t have to be dramatic or public. It doesn’t require announcements or tracking apps. Often, it’s quiet. Private. Repetitive. And deeply effective.
Instead of asking, What should I change this year? a gentler question might be, What helps me feel a little more like myself? The answer to that question can become a guide—one that supports mental health far longer than a resolution ever could.
This January, consider trading the all-or-nothing mindset for something steadier. Let small joys anchor your days. Let them be enough. Mental wellness isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about learning how to care for who you already are.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
