Finding Hope When the New Year Feels Overwhelming

Tips and Support from Other Young People!

We are YoungMinds is the leading charity in the United Kingdom that is fighting for a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health.

Part of their work is to share real stories written by other young people about their experiences and tips for getting through life’s challenges.

On this page, their bloggers share about the mental health challenges they’ve faced at the start of the New Year, and how to find hope, self-compassion, and go at your own pace.

Here is a great New Years story from 23-year-old Hannah …

“As we start January, we often reflect on our past year and set intentions for the next one. For some, this can be an exciting, new venture or a hopeful, fresh start. For others, this change can be filled with a lot of unknowns, doubts and ‘what ifs’. Or feelings of low self-worth surrounding not quite being where you want to be in life.

If you’re feeling as though you haven’t accomplished as much as you ‘should have’, that’s okay. It doesn’t make you a failure. Please be kind to yourself.

When we have expectations for where we feel we ought to be or compare our lives to other people’s, we can feel as though we aren’t good enough (when in fact, we are). As well as thinking about how much you wish to achieve now or in the future, please also remember to celebrate just how far you’ve come.

2024 may have been tough for you. If it was, you made it – as you have through 100% of your bad days. That’s something to be really proud of. It can also be common to experience overwhelm at the uncertainty of what could happen in the year ahead. If this is you, please know you’re not alone and it will get better.

Moving forward, if there’s something in your life that you’d like to improve for yourself, and you feel able to work towards that – that’s great! (Remember it’s okay if you don’t meet any goals you choose to set. We’re all human, and not everything goes to plan.)

However, if you simply don’t wish to set New Year’s resolutions or feel it would be too much pressure, that is also perfectly valid. You are already enough. Here’s to 2025. I hope it brings you joy!”

Click below to read more great tips and stories from other “real” young people – about entering the New Year and other challenges and topics.