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Ins and Outs for Prioritizing Mental Health in 2026

Active Minds

Active Minds

January 1, 2026

2 minute read

Welcome to 2026! It’s January 1st, and we are officially calling it: this is the year of collective care.

If there’s one thing we learned last year, it’s that we’re stronger when we share our stories. That’s why we’re starting the year with a reminder that healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it happens when we show up for one another.

To put this into practice, we looked to our community. We know that facing a new year can sometimes feel overwhelming, so we wanted to lean on our network for inspiration as we manifest what we want to center and release what no longer serves us in the New Year.

From our national staff to our incredible student network, we’ve gathered the ‘Ins’ we are embracing and the ‘Outs’ we are officially leaving behind in 2025 to help inspire your own intention setting for 2026.

From protecting our peace to finding our voice, here are the intentions we are embracing together.

IN 💚

  • Making time for self-reflection at regular intervals –Active Minds Staff
  • Going for what’s truly in my heart –Active Minds Community Member
  • Stepping outside my comfort zone –Active Minds Staff
  • Prioritizing my own care, too –Active Minds Staff
  • More connection and outdoor time  –Active Minds Community Member
  • Therapy –Active Minds Staff
  • More time for myself (and less anxiety) –Active Minds Community Member
  • Checking in with friends –Active Minds Staff
  • Eating consistently throughout the day –Active Minds Community Member

OUT 👋

  • Being an object at rest (time to be an object in motion) –Active Minds Staff
  • Settling for what I don’t want –Active Minds Community Member
  • Social media notifications on my phone –Active Minds Staff
  • Staying up past bedtime –Active Minds Community Member
  • Self-deprecating humor is OUT –Active Minds Staff
  • Doom/mindless scrolling! –Active Minds Community Member
  • Trying to do it all myself –Active Minds Staff
  • Negative self-talk is out for me (positive affirmations only) –Active Minds Community Member
  • Isolating and suffering in silence –Active Minds Staff

This year, we aren’t doing it alone. We’re leaning on each other as we build a society where mental health is a priority every day. Let’s make 2026 the year we show up for ourselves and for each other.

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