Mental Health Charity Urges Cork Residents to Rethink New Year's Resolutions

As people across Cork prepare to welcome 2026, mental health charity Turn2Me is encouraging the public to rethink traditional resolutions and focus on small, realistic changes that support mental wellbeing. Rather than setting extreme or perfection-driven goals, the charity says sustainable habits rooted in self-compassion can make a meaningful difference throughout the year.

Fiona O'Malley, CEO of Turn2Me, warns that unrealistic New Year's resolutions can negatively impact mental wellbeing and lead to feelings of failure, guilt, and low self-worth before January is even over.

O'Malley said:

"Every January, we see people feeling deflated and disappointed because they believe they've failed at self-improvement. The problem isn't the person, it's the unrealistic expectations. For the sake of positive mental health, we need to normalise kinder, more achievable goals."

Why Unrealistic Goals Harm Mental Health

Turn2Me outlines four key reasons why people should be realistic with New Year's resolutions:

Unrealistic Goals Fuel Feelings of Failure: When resolutions are extreme or vague, such as completely changing lifestyle habits overnight, they are difficult to sustain. Falling short can quickly trigger self-criticism and shame.

O'Malley explained:

"Repeatedly telling yourself you've failed can seriously damage self-esteem. That negative inner dialogue can be particularly harmful for people already struggling with anxiety or depression."

Perfectionism Increases Stress and Anxiety: Many resolutions are rooted in perfectionism, the belief that you must do everything flawlessly. This mindset creates constant pressure and anxiety, turning the New Year into a source of stress rather than hope.

O'Malley said:

"Mental health thrives on balance, not extremes. When goals are too rigid, people feel anxious about slipping up, instead of focusing on progress."

Big Changes Don't Happen Overnight: Lasting change is gradual. Expecting instant results ignores how habits, mental health, and behaviour really work.

O'Malley noted:

"Small, consistent steps are far more effective than dramatic overhauls. Sustainable change comes from patience and self-compassion, not from punishing yourself for not being 'better' fast enough. For example, if you never run, and you set yourself the New Year's resolution of running 10km a day every day, from the 1st January, that's probably not realistic because it's a huge physical undertaking and if you're not used to it, you'll likely injure yourself. Instead, aim for 1km a day for a week and increase that by 1km a day until you get to the 5km or 10km mark, and instead of running every day, consider every second or third day, that's more sustainable. It gives the body a chance to recover and allows for the times when life gets in the way."

All-or-Nothing Thinking Can Undermine Mental Health: When people believe that missing one day means the entire resolution is ruined, they are more likely to give up altogether. This type of thinking is closely linked to anxiety and low mood.

O'Malley said:

"Life is unpredictable. Missing a workout or having a difficult week doesn't mean you've failed. It means you're human."

10 Realistic Resolutions That Support Mental Health

Turn2Me has outlined 10 realistic New Year's resolutions that can help improve mental health in a manageable and compassionate way:

1. Spend More Time in Nature: Make time to be outdoors regularly, whether it's a short walk in a park, along the coast, or simply sitting outside.

O'Malley said:

"Nature has a calming effect on the nervous system. Even brief moments outdoors can help reduce stress and improve mood."

2. Create Moments of Calm in Your Day: Build small pauses into your routine, such as taking a few deep breaths, enjoying a quiet cup of tea, or stepping away from screens.

O'Malley said:

"Mental health improves when we allow ourselves moments of stillness. You don't need hours of mindfulness, just intentional breaks."

3. Set Boundaries That Protect Your Energy: This could mean saying no more often, limiting over-commitment, or reducing time with people or situations that drain you.

O'Malley said:

"Healthy boundaries are an act of self-respect, not selfishness."

4. Reduce Self-Criticism: Notice when your inner voice becomes harsh and practise speaking to yourself with kindness instead. Consciously speak kindly about yourself.

O'Malley said:

"How we talk to ourselves matters. Compassionate self-talk can significantly reduce anxiety and low mood."

5. Stay Connected, Even in Small Ways: Aim to check in with a friend, family member, or colleague regularly, even a short message counts.

O'Malley noted:

"Human connection is vital for mental wellbeing. We are a social species, tribal in nature. You don't need constant socialising; meaningful contact is what matters."

6. Move Your Body Gently and Consistently: Choose movement you enjoy, such as walking, stretching, running, weights, dancing or a weekly gym session to release endorphins, the natural 'happy' hormone.

7. Limit Comparison With Others: Reduce time spent comparing your life, body, or achievements to others, particularly on social media. Remind yourself that what we see on social media is curated and heavily edited, not a real depiction of a person's reality.

8. Ask for Help When You Need It: Make a commitment to reach out for support sooner rather than struggling in silence.

9. Accept That Progress Isn't Linear: Allow space for setbacks without seeing them as failures.

O'Malley stated:

"Healing and growth don't happen in straight lines. One difficult day does not erase progress."

10. Focus on What You Can Control: Instead of trying to fix everything at once, focus on small actions within your control each day.

Turn2Me encourages people to reframe resolutions as flexible intentions rather than strict rules, such as focusing on wellbeing, rest, connection, or simply getting through each day as best they can.

Turn2Me provides free online counselling, support groups, and mental health resources to people across Ireland, available 365 days a year.