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For many people, the new year is a time of reflection. It’s an opportunity to take stock of what’s going well in life and identify areas that might need some extra attention. And, in a culture that often values productivity over well-being, it’s easy to feel like tending to your own mental health ends up last on the list — if it makes it onto the list at all. Fortunately, following some simple new year-focused mental health tips can help you prioritize your emotional wellness.

As you consider your hopes and goals for the new year, think about how investing in your mental health might make your goals feel more attainable. Whether investing in mental and emotional well-being is a top priority for you this year or you’re more focused on other goals, the truth is that mental well-being informs everything you do.

That’s why Rula asked three therapists for their best tips for improving mental wellness both at the start of the new year and all year long.

Key Takeaways

• The new year is a great time to reflect on life. Thinking about what’s going well and what areas could use some extra attention can help you set yourself up for the year ahead.
• If you’re setting big goals going into the new year, breaking them into manageable pieces and infusing self-compassion into the process will help you stay on track.
• If you’re looking for more support on your mental health journey, a licensed therapist can help you set the right goals and support you as you work on reaching them.

1. Make your goals about building habits, not just achieving outcomes.

Have you ever set a New Year’s resolution only to run out of steam a few weeks or months later? If so, you’re not alone.

According to Brandy Chalmers, licensed professional counselor, the trend of abandoning a New Year’s resolution early in the year points to the need for a mindset shift about goal setting. “Focusing on building habits instead of achieving goals can help allow for sustainable growth and flexibility. For example, instead of setting a goal like ‘get in shape,’ aim for a manageable habit like ‘walk for 20 minutes, three times a week.’ This approach is easier to stick with and helps you stay on track.”

“Change takes time,” says Chalmers. “Building habits means taking small, consistent steps that add up over time, reducing the pressure of big, short-term goals. Celebrate progress, and be kind to yourself if things don’t go perfectly. Adjusting along the way is part of the process and can lead to better mental and emotional well-being. This mindset helps you stay motivated, even when life gets busy.”

2. Be intentional about how you spend your energy, not just your time.

When planning out your days and weeks, it can be easy to make decisions about what to do and what not to do based on the time you have available. But, as Chalmers shares, while time management is certainly important, energy management is what keeps you feeling balanced.

“Pay attention to what drains you and what r

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Every year, millions of people set ambitious New Year’s resolutions, yet research shows that more than half give up on their goals within the first month, and even more abandon their goals as the year progresses.

But that’s not you, at least not this year. Having the right technology on your side can significantly increase your odds of success. Science-backed apps can provide you with real structure, accountability, and motivation to transform your goals into achievable tasks.

After diving into the research behind some of the most popular health, wellness, and productivity apps, mental health services platform Alma selected 10 that were developed by experts and are supported by quality studies.

1. Daylio for Mood Tracking and Micro-Journaling

Daylio

Daylio is a simple, user-friendly app that tracks daily moods, activities, and journaling to help you better understand your habits (the good and the bad!). Daylio works by utilizing an icon-based system that has a strong research backing; studies have shown incredible effectiveness, especially when used in conjunction with therapy.

What you get:

• Free unlimited includes one tap mood and activity tracking, daily notes/photos/voice recordings, reminders, emotional trend charts, trigger identification, and goal tracking.
• Premium ($4.99/m or $35.99/yr; 7-day free trial) includes cloud backup, customization of moods/activites/themes, infinite reminders, unlimited moods, advanced tracking stats, ability to download records, and other features at unlimited usage.
• Daylio also offers family sharing under the Premium plan.

2. Fabulous for Building Healthy Habits and Self-Improvement

Fabulous

Fabulous was developed through Duke University to help people make positive life shifts. Fabulous takes a science-based approach to building healthy habi

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High cholesterol is one of the most common and manageable risk factors for heart disease. Millions of adults are prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, support heart health, and prevent serious events such as heart attack and stroke. With many treatment options available, it can be challenging to understand how different medications work and which ones may be right for you.

In this guide, SaveHealth, a prescription discount/savings card website, explains the most common medications for high cholesterol, how they compare, and what to know about safety and side effects. It is designed for people who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol or are exploring treatment options.

Understanding high cholesterol and treatment goals

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood. The body needs some cholesterol to function, but too much LDL cholesterol can build up in the arteries, causing a blockage, thereby increasing cardiovascular risk.

Treatment goals often include:

1. Lowering LDL cholesterol.
2. Improving overall lipid balance.
3. Reducing long-term cardiovascular risk.
4. Supporting lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.

Doctors choose medications based on cholesterol levels, personal risk factors, and how well a patient tolerates certain drugs.

Main classes of cholesterol-lowering drugs

Before reviewing individual prescriptions, it helps to understand the major categories.

Common cholesterol-lowering drug classes include:

1. Statins, which reduce cholesterol production in the liver.
2. Cholesterol absorption inhibitors, which reduce cholesterol absorption from the small intestine.
3. Bile acid sequestrants, which bind cholesterol in the intestines of the digestive tract.
4. PCSK9 inhibitors and siRNA therapies regulate cholesterol production in the liver, which significantly helps lower LDL.
5. ATP citrate lyase inhibitors (also known as ACL inhibitors) reduce cholesterol synthesis in a different pathway.
6. Combination therapies, which use two mechanisms in one pill.

Each class plays a different role in LDL cholesterol treatment.

Statin medications for high cholesterol

Statins are the most widely prescribed cholesterol medications. They are proven to reduce LDL cholesterol and lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Common statin medications for high cholesterol include:

1. Atorvastatin, generic for the trade name Lipitor.
2. Simvastatin, generic for the trade name Zocor.
3. Lovastatin, generic for the trade name Mevacor.
4. Fluvastatin, generic

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Each year, winter weather brings several challenges to drivers—one of the most notable is frozen precipitation. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain each pose unique hazards, including reduced visibility, poor traction, and unpredictable road conditions. Unlike general winter driving concerns, like low temperatures and early-onset darkness, these forms of cold-weather precipitation directly affect how your vehicle interacts with the road.

In this guide, Husky Liners breaks down the main differences between snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Learn what to do—and what to avoid—when you encounter any of these conditions while on the road this winter.

Snow vs. Sleet vs. Freezing Rain: Main Differences

While snow, sleet, and freezing rain may look similar from inside your vehicle, they behave significantly differently on the road. Understanding these differences is the first step toward adjusting your driving habits appropriately.

For more information on what makes these weather conditions different, check out the table below.

Husky Liners

How to Drive in Snow

Snow is the most familiar and easily navigable type of winter precipitation, but that doesn’t mean it should be taken lightly. Even light snow can significantly reduce visibility, while heavy snow accumulation can reduce your tire’s ability to maintain grip. When tightly packed, snow can also behave similarly to ice.

6 Do’s of Driving in the Snow

Driving in the snow requires several strategic changes to driving habits to ensure safety. These include:

• DO increase following distance.
• DO drive at reduced speeds.
• DO accelerate and brake gradually.
• DO keep headlights on at all times of day.
• DO clear snow from your vehicle before driving.
• DO use winter tires. 

5 Don’ts of Driving in the Snow

Additionally, there are some driving habits you should avoid in the snow, as these moves can lead to loss of control or accidents. When the snow begins to fall, avoid the following behaviors behind the wheel:

• DON’T use cruise control.
• DON’T make sudden steering inputs.
• DON’T follow snowplows dangerously closely.
• DON’T assume that 4WD or AWD eliminates the risk of losing traction.
• DON’T overcorrect while sliding—turn into the slide or let the wheel free turn until the vehicle comes to a stop.

Sleet creates a uniquely hazardous situation due to the erratic, unpredictable

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Could the new federal tax-credit scholarship program pay for summer school or tutoring for public school students? Could it help homeschool families, microschools, and after-school enrichment programs alike?

Or will most of the money mirror voucher programs and flow through large established scholarship groups for private school tuition?

The race is on to shape a program that could become one of the largest federal investments in K-12 education and fuel a dramatic expansion of private school choice, Chalkbeat reports. The Treasury Department fired the starter’s pistol right before Thanksgiving when it posted a request for comments on how to implement the new tax credit, which passed this summer as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Requesting comment before developing draft rules is the first step in a process that ultimately will determine how much authority states have to put their own stamp on the program, how attractive it is for nonprofits, and how much flexibility families will have.

Treasury Department rules could influence whether some governors choose to have their states participate at all. The Democratic governors of Colorado and North Carolina already plan to opt their states in. Many others have said they’re waiting on federal guidance before they decide.

But on one of the key questions — can governors put restrictions on scholarship-granting organizations, such as requiring that they serve only low-income families or prohibiting them from discriminating against LGBTQ students? The answer may already be no.

The request for comment indicates that Treasury expects to require participating states to include all organizations that meet the bare-bones statutory requirements, such as being a federally recognized nonprofit and serving more than 10 students who don’t all attend the same school.

“It’s really a take it or leave it scheme,” said Rachel Canter, director of education policy for the Progressive Policy Institute, a think tank.

The law doesn’t define “school,” and the Treasury Department has not explicitly asked for feedback on how it should be defined. That could lead to more questions: Could scholarships be used to cover preschool tuition? What about microschools or students who are homeschooled? School choice advocates want those students to have access to funds raised through the tax credit, but some are wary of creating a federal definition of school through the rule-making process.

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