Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!

While many conversations and publications speak mainly about exercise and weight loss as New Year’s resolutions, I suggest that we all also strive to simplify our lives and reinforce the reasons for why we do what we do. I believe this is especially important for those of us who are in healthcare fields serving individuals with mental illnesses, substance use disorders and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities.

We all seem to be going frenetically in different directions, trying to keep up with the proliferation of instantaneous and 24/7 communications in different forms – particularly as the mental health and substance use fields are undergoing many changes. Much of this information is inevitably repetitive as many organizations with common goals are bound to share the same information that affects them and the constituencies they serve.

We are exhausting ourselves and that is bound to affect our energy levels, ability to focus and potential impact. It is better to concentrate on a focused direction and remember why we are in the field and on whom we need to focus to achieve our purpose.

May you enjoy a happy, healthy, successful and rewarding New Year.