How to deal with the "it's already May?!" scaries
Everytime around this year I have a mild freak out:
“How is it already May 7? Like whoa there 2024, can you please just chill? I am still working on the goals I set for myself in January! Wasn’t it only February like a week ago?!”
But then I remember that May is Mental Health Awareness Month AND Asian Heritage Month and I'm like, 😁 this is SO my month! I mean It’s pretty much the superbowl if you’re Filipina AND a therapist, ha!
If you’re dealing with the “I can’t believe it’s already May” scaries, I feel your pain. Keep reading to learn how to cope with them better.
In honor of Mental Health/Asian Heritage Month, join me in learning some quick facts:
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that about one out of every four people will face a mental health problem at some point in their life.
Suicide is a big worry worldwide. Every year, it takes the lives of over 700,000 people. Shockingly, it's the second most common cause of death for young people aged 15 to 29.
Even though lots of Asian Americans struggle with mental health issues, they're not as likely to get help compared to other groups. Studies show that only one out of every three Asian Americans who need mental health support actually get it.
If you set goals in January, it feels so refreshing to feel like you have the entire year to get them done.
Then May rolls around and it’s a sobering wake up call that you may not be where you thought you’d be just yet when it comes to health, fitness, career, relationship, or anything really.
If you’re like me and feeling a bit tense because you feel like you’re running out of time, here are some ideas to help you get over your mid-year scaries. (By the way, you might be surprised by #5).
First, celebrate what you HAVE done this year.
You definitely haven’t done NOTHING, and you deserve so much credit for what you have done!
If you:
read a book
rested
learned something new
met someone new
tried something new
went somewhere new
did something that made you scared or uncomfortable
apologized for something
stopped a cycle that was repeating in your life
moved your body
spent time with people you care about
showed your love to someone or something
created something you’re proud of
… you have something to celebrate in 2024.
For me, one of my goals was to spend more time doing things where I lose track of time. I started playing padel last year and this year I’ve enjoyed playing it nearly every weekend and am so proud of myself for just having fun with it.
2. Do a reality check.
Perhaps you wish you could get fluent in another language in 6 months, but that’s just not realistic. Adjust your goal to be more do-able so you don’t stress yourself out! Remember than even 10-15 minutes on a goal every day can make a big impact by the end of the year.
3. Pause, breathe, and reassess.
Perhaps the things you thought were important in January have changed. Perhaps you learned that some things will take more or less time than you expected. Perhaps you changed your mind on something. Remember that it’s OK to change your mind, so feel free to take a moment to ask yourself if you want to add, remove, or change any goals on your list.
4. Make a plan.
The way you spend your time and money is a direct reflection of your priorities.
Take a look at your calendar/agenda and ask yourself if you’re spending your time in alignment with your values. Do you need to earmark more time to write that novel you’ve been dreaming of? Or stop spending so much time scrolling before you go to bed so you can make a dent in those piles of books you’ve been meaning to read? Identify any sneaky time-wasters that are getting in your way even though they really aren’t important to you. Take a look at your bank account and the top categories of where you spend. Does your money reflect that you’re spending it in a way that reflects what you want to accomplish this year? Perhaps you’re eating out more when you really want to prioritize travel. Identify any spending trends that are interfering with your goals. Adjust your budget (and check in regularly) to make sure you’re spending it on things that matter most.
5. Please stop equating your worth to what you achieve.
You are a human being on your own unique journey, not a living breathing to do list. Sometimes life gets hard and it’s not always easy to get things done the way you wish you would. Here’s a reminder that there’s so much more to you than checking off a bullet point list of accomplishments. Rest is important, and so is time focused on things other than productivity (like joy, peace, play, delight).
Sure time flies, but by practicing more self-compassion and patience with yourself, the middle of the year doesn’t have to scare you. Honor yourself by honoring your journey and the timing of it.
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