New Year's resolution tips that can help improve mental health revealed

All set to make a New Year's resolution? Just consider few tips suggested by an expert to make a broad lifestyle change by better managing your emotional health.

William Manard, M.D., assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University, said that a healthy change in attitude and lifestyle can make a difference to your life.

Manard offered six simple tips for mental well-being that will not only help you relieve your stress, but also impact your other New Year's resolutions.

The expert suggested setting reasonable goals as according to him people often fall short of their New Year's resolutions because they set unreasonable goals.

Manard said checking off items in a to-do list can give you a sense of accomplishment, which will help you feel relieved and happy.

It is important to keep some time for yourself. "Many times, we allow people to pull us in different directions: 50 hours at work, 20 hours of kids' activities, 10 hours of volunteer work and another 10 hours of housework in a week. After all this, one doesn't have time for oneself," he said. "Try to spend an hour every other day to just do something that you enjoy."

Manard said personal activities helps us detach from our surrounding, can be very relaxing and free the mind of stress.

The expert said that it is important to have adequate sleep as apart from being tired, poor sleep can also cause increased stress level, make you eat more, develop low mental acuity and also low productivity.

Manard said that exercising is not only good for your body, but can also foster mental well-being.

Exercising increases the brain chemical endorphin, which can make you feel better. It is also known to improve depression and help get through this winter season, he said.