Have you ever spent two hours dreading the fact you were going to see someone for an hour? If so, you just gave that person two extra hours of your life.

Have you ever blamed someone for ruining your day or putting you in a bad mood? If so, you gave that person power over your emotions.

There are many ways in which we give negative people too much of our time, energy, and mental real estate. And the truth is, we all let negative people take a toll on us sometimes. 

And if we’re not careful, we might waste a lot of time and energy thinking about them or complaining about them. Or, we might let a negative person influence our behavior in an unhealthy way.

When you realize that you’re doing it, however, you can create positive change. You can set limits on how much of an impact you’re going to let a negative person have over our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. 

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Richie Stephens is an Irish gangster-turned-actor who lives in Los Angeles. He frequently plays villains in TV and movies, including Days of Our Lives, Criminal Minds, MacGyver, and Blue Bloods.

He’s also the author of The Gangster’s Guide to Sobriety where he shares how 12-step groups helped him get into recovery after decades of drug and alcohol abuse.

Some of the things he talks about today are what made him decide to get into recovery, the lies he had to stop believing, how he learned to manage his cravings, and what he did when he didn't agree with everything in the 12-step meetings he attended.

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We all put things off sometimes — even when we know there will be negative consequences for doing it. Whether we avoid doing household chores, making appointments, or paying our bills, procrastination can become a real problem.

And while some people seem to think it’s a time management issue, procrastination is more likely to stem from an emotional regulation issue. We put off things that will cause us to feel uncomfortable emotions like boredom, anxiety, or frustration. 

Unfortunately, our attempts to avoid feeling uncomfortable don’t actually work. In fact, it can backfire and cause us to experience even more long-term distress as we face the consequences of our procrastination.

Fortunately, there are some science-backed strategies that can help you break the procrastination habit. When you start checking those tasks off your to-do list, you’ll experience a sense of relief and accomplishment — which can motivate you to keep going and get even more things done. 

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I released this episode in 2021. But the strategies are still effective (and perhaps even more relevant now). So we decided to re-release it so you can make 2023 your best year yet!

Most resolutions don’t work. In fact, most are abandoned by mid-January. 

Yet most people continue to establish resolutions year after year hoping that, somehow, this will be the year that they actually create change.

That's not to say you shouldn't create a goal for next year. You should. But it's important to do so in a healthy way.

Today, I’m sharing an encore performance of a new year's resolution episode from a couple of years ago. These strategies to build mental strength in the new year might be even more relevant now than they were back then.

Some of the things I talk about in today’s episode:

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It’s been a great year hosting The Verywell Mind Podcast. We’ve talked to so many mentally strong people who have been brave enough and kind enough to share their strategies for staying mentally strong and their struggles along the way.

I’ve also had a lot of fun creating the Friday Fix episodes to share some of my favorite strategies straight from the therapy office. I use them in my everyday life and I hope you find them helpful too.

One of the best parts of being the host of a podcast is hearing from the audience. I’ve heard from a lot of listeners who have shared the steps they’re taking to build mental strength too. 

Here are the most popular episodes and the lessons we've learned from them in 2022.

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Michael Baldwin says EMDR saved his life. Deborah Korn, PsyD uses EMDR to help people overcome trauma. Together, they wrote a book called Every Memory Deserves Respect.

Some of the things they talk about are how EMDR works, why it is so effective in addressing PTSD, what to expect from an EMDR session, and the symptoms that tend to improve with treatment.

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A decade ago, the idea of meeting with a therapist online seemed a bit too far-fetched for many people. There were concerns about everything from privacy to credibility.

But online therapy has become mainstream over the past few years. In fact, the abundance of online therapy sites and additional services being offered over the past few years has left many people feeling overwhelmed by all the choices.

And it’s no wonder why. Some online therapy sites take insurance. Others offer subscription services. Some sites allow you to message a therapist throughout the day while others offer video appointments only.

Fortunately, there are many reputable providers who can treat a variety of mental health issues effectively online. Depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and even relationship problems can be addressed with online treatment now. 

It’s tough to sort through all the options, however, (especially when you’re stressed out, battling depression, or feeling extremely anxious). It can also be difficult to know whether online therapy is a good fit for you.

So here's everything you need to know about online therapy.

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Tracy McCubbin has always loved to create clutter-free spaces. So she turned her organizational skills into a full-time business called dClutterfly where she helps people organize their homes. 

She’s also the author of two books. Her first book, Making Space, Clutter Free, teaches readers how to get rid of the clutter once and for all. Her newest book, Make Space for Happiness, describes the link between clutter and emotional wellness.

Some of the things she talks about today are how clutter affects our well-being, how to decide when we have too much stuff, and a step-by-step guide to decluttering your home one space at a time.

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It’s called “the most wonderful time of the year,” but for many people, the holidays aren’t joy-filled. In fact, this time of year can be extra tough in many ways.

The holidays can amplify existing issues, like loneliness. They create a lot of stress, including financial strain, for many people. Sprinkle in some family tension, grief, and end of the year deadlines, and it’s a recipe for higher rates of distress.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to stay mentally strong throughout the holidays. Here are 10 things you can do this year to manage your mental health and reduce your stress.

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Andrea Bonior is a psychologist who spent fifteen years turning what she’d learned in the therapy office into a mental health column for The Washington Post called “Baggage Check.”

She’s also the author of three books, including Detox Your Thoughts. She writes for Psychology Today and is the host of a new podcast called Baggage Check.

Some of the things Andrea shares are how to deal with people who cancel plans at the last minute, what to do when someone always points out the negative, and how to respond to unsolicited advice.

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