by the OneCare Group Editorial Team
2025 is here. Whether you are already engaged in a well-being and psychotherapeutic journey, or you are at the starting point, there are a lot of ways to focus on improving our mental health in the new year while being on board. Sticking to resolutions has been proven to be extremely difficult for some, due to setting unrealistic expectations and lack of resources on the vessel. Focusing on mental health goals can be a good gateway to a more fulfilling year, especially if you will be away from loved ones for long periods of time.
Spend some time reflecting on the past year – the lessons taught, the unfulfilled hopes and dreams, the successes, accomplishments and personal growth, but also the unforgettable mistakes, mis-happenings and failures. We all have good and bad days, memories we want to remember in the years to come, and things we’d like to forget forever. What are the things you have accomplished and feel proud of? Is there anything you would have liked to do, and feel you haven’t had the time to do so? Is there anything you would like to do differently? What lessons are you taking forward in 2025?
It’s easy to say, but difficult to do – challenge yourself to become better each day. It doesn’t have to be big changes. In fact, change happens in small steps, and time is your ally when you want to see improvements in your personal life. You can push your boundaries, learn new things, question old ideas and assumptions, reach goals you always wished to accomplish. Self-discovery can be a rocky journey, but it will boost your confidence and help you learn more about yourself and who you are as a person.
Have you ever picked up a book? Used arts and crafts? Wrote a book chapter or an article? Watch sports? Went to the theatre? Life is full of fun activities and while some of them may be familiar to us through active or past engagement, some we may have never considered. Challenging ourselves to try something new, learn new skills, and meet like-minded people can increase our self-esteem and help us feel more connected to our bodies and others. Don’t be afraid to introduce a new activity on board or participate in activities available on your vessel that you have not tried before.
Interpersonal relationships are vital for our mental health and well-being. Strong bonds and long-lasting friendships can help us combat loneliness, feel connected and taken care of, feel loved and fulfilled. Sometimes life gets in the way, and we may have lost touch with loved ones due to the everyday stressors we have been dealing with and the lack of time. Consider writing to a long-lost friend – send them a text, or an email, or even call them; ask them how they have been, if there is something new going on in their lives; express your desire to reconnect when you return from your trip on board and how you are feeling for them. What’s better than coming to the other side of 2025 with an old friend?
We know social media can affect our mood, nature of relationships and stress levels, especially following long shifts on board. With 2025 knocking on our door, it’s beneficial to rethink our relationship with social media and our online presence. What social media posts do you engage with? Do you consume too many negative comments, news and posts? Do you spend too many hours on social media? Do you compare yourself with others? Do you post regularly? If you do, what is your motivation for doing so? Re-evaluate your social media use, frequency and reasoning; challenge yourself to limit the time spent online; delete time-sucking applications from your phone; set some boundaries. In the digital world, it’s hard to do, but not unattainable.
Reflect on where you would like to be next year, and what your next year self would like to hear from you. Write a letter to share appreciation to yourself, show self-compassion and set goals you’d like to achieve in 2026.
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