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Monterey County Behavioral Health advises small steps and support to keep New Year’s resolutions
Summary
Kelly Moulton of Monterey County Behavioral Health urged residents to start small, use accountability partners and be kind to themselves, and highlighted county crisis resources including local access clinics and the 988 crisis line.
Kelly Moulton, deputy director of Monterey County Behavioral Health, urged Monterey County residents on Jan. 7 to treat New Year’s resolutions as manageable, incremental changes rather than all-or-nothing overhauls. "Start small," Moulton said, adding that lasting behavior change is built through consistency and time.
Moulton framed resolutions across three domains—health, wealth and happiness—saying health goals can range from diet and exercise to reducing substance use, wealth goals often involve adjusting spending or saving strategies, and happiness goals center on relationships and personal growth. She flagged local economic pressure on the Central Coast that leads some families to hold multiple jobs, noting that financial constraints can affect the feasibility of some resolutions.
On setbacks, Moulton advised listeners to reframe slips as opportunities to try again. "A slip up is just another opportunity for us to try again," she said, urging people to be gentle with themselves and to celebrate small wins. She recommended identifying one priority at a time—for example, adding one glass of water per day—and using accountability partners to sustain progress.
Moulton also reminded listeners that county behavioral health resources are available, and referenced a flyer listing access clinics and the county mobile crisis team. She said the community crisis line and its national three-digit number, 988, are available for anyone in crisis and that clinics remain open to provide support.
The county-hosted briefing closed without any formal action; Moulton encouraged residents to seek support and reiterated that incremental steps can produce meaningful change over time.
