The New Year is upon us! For many, this means setting new goals and checking in on the goals they set last year. Setting goals is proven to have a positive effect on your mental health.
Before you start setting your goals, reflect on your own life and how you would like to see it improve. Try to steer away from jumping on the bandwagon of the goals of those around you, and instead ask yourself what is important to you. If you are feeling like you didn’t achieve your previous goals, or are a little lost on where to start with your goals for this year, check out these tips!
Set measurable goals. Setting vague goals is the downfall of most unachieved goals. To set yourself on the path to success, set attainable goals that are measurable, so you can see if you have really made the progress you want. For example, instead of saying “I want to journal more,” consider stating “I want to journal for 5 minutes 5 days a week.”
Write down your goals and keep a journal for tracking progress. It is important to acknowledge the progress you have made on your journey. By writing them down and tracking your progress, you can take pride in how far you have come and help yourself stay on track to achieving your goals.
Be flexible and give yourself room to adjust. Life is always changing, which sometimes means your goals might happen as quickly as possible, or even become attainable. Acknowledge what you can and cannot control in life, and be willing to adjust your goals to the circumstances.
Have a goal setting buddy to help keep each other on track. Find a family member or friend who you want to partner with in goal setting. This person doesn’t need to have the same goals as you, but should be someone that you can confide in when things are not going to plan, help keep you accountable for your goals, and provide encouragement along the way.
Create a reward system. If getting started on your goals is difficult, consider creating a reward system. For each step you make, consider a small reward that can go with it. You could put a dollar in a jar for each week you complete your goals or take yourself out to lunch or buy yourself something you have been wanting for accomplishing a bigger step.
Create healthy habits. The best way to make your goals a reality is to help yourself create healthy habits to achieve them. You could begin by setting reminders on your phone or by starting each day off with a routine that benefits your goal. Remember, creating habits takes time, and not everyday is going to be perfect. Focus your energy on the good days, and give yourself allowance to have days off.
Achieving your goals is an ongoing journey, always remember on the path to progress there will be down days, days where you feel you are going backwards, and bumps in the road. Show yourself the patience and grace you would to those you love the most.
Happy New Year from all of us at Dawson Place!