Deciding to turn over a new leaf in the new year could do more harm than good, a mental health charity has warned.

    一家心理健康的慈善組織警告人們：新年立志，決定開啟人生嶄新一頁的做法，對身體造成的影響弊大于利。

    Mind has urged people not to feel they must start 2009 armed with resolutions for self-improvement.

    慈善組織Mind規勸人們摒棄新年新氣象，制訂2009年新年大計的固有做法。

    The charity said resolutions which focus on issues such as the need to lose weight or job worries create a negative self-image.

    這家慈善組織說，那些敦促自己減肥或者擔心裁員的新年想法都會對自身造成負面的影響。

    And if the plans fail to materialise, that could trigger feelings of failure and inadequacy, the charity said.

    慈善組織還說，一旦目標未能實現，人們將產生挫敗感和自責感。

    Mind chief executive Paul Farmer said focussing on problems or insecurities can lead to feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem and even mild depression.

    Mind慈善團體負責人保羅·法爾莫說，人們對問題的關注和由此引發的不安全感，都會導致人們感到無助、缺乏自信，甚至導致輕度抑郁癥。

    "We chastise ourselves for our perceived shortcomings and set unrealistic goals to change our

    behaviour, so it's not surprising that when we fail to keep resolutions, we end up feeling worse than when we started," he said.

    他說：“為了那些不切實際的計劃，我們會通過自我懲罰來改變自身的缺點和行為，所以當新年計劃無法實現的時候，我們心里產生比定計劃前更糟糕的負面情緒是不足為奇的。”

    "In 2009, instead of making a New Year's resolution, think positively about the year to come and what you can achieve."

    “2009年，與其制訂一份新年大計，還不如積極地做一個近期規劃，想想那些自己可以完成的事情。”

    Instead of easily broken resolutions, the charity has suggested a few steps to improve all-round mental health in 2009:

    舍棄了不易實現的新年大計，這個慈善組織提出了幾條全方位提升心理健康的2009年計劃：

    Being active--exercise releases endorphins and even a gentle stroll is beneficial for mental

    well-being;

    多做運動——運動能讓人體產生一種叫作內啡肽的荷爾蒙，即便和緩的散步也能讓人心情愉快這些荷爾蒙能讓人感到心情愉快；

    Going green--evidence has shown that connecting with nature can boost moods;

    親近大自然——有據顯示，親近自然可以改善情緒；

    Learn something new--it will keep minds stimulated and give confidence;

    接觸新事物、學習新知識——這樣做有助于刺激大腦，提高自信；

    Give back to the community--it can be just as rewarding for you as those you choose to help.

    回報社區——幫助別人，陶冶自己，利人利己。