As parents and caregivers of medically complex children, life can often feel chaotic and out of control. JJMF’s Community Engagement Manager, Karlita Blackwell, shares some tips to help mentally “reset” your mind and body as we embark on a brand new year.

1. Declutter: Choose something in your life that needs to be de-cluttered. This can be a closet, pantry, your email inbox, pictures on your phone, etc. Whatever you feel will make you feel better!
2. Set Attainable Goals: Start small, you don’t need to accomplish three things in one month. Is there something you’ve been pushing off that you can prioritize getting accomplished within the first 3 months of the year? Try starting there!
3. Reflect on Your Accomplishments: Think about the last year and what you did well. This can be something small (like getting more sleep) or something big (like winning an appeal for your child’s medicine!).
4. Improve: Choose something you’ve personally wanted to improve on and make it a priority. Some examples are healthy sleep patterns, exercising, organization, relationships, etc.
5. Practice Wellness: Staying healthy can fall into a variety of different categories, with exercise and eating well often being the most talked about. However, this also can include things like learning mindfulness techniques and practicing gratitude.