Do you set personal goals as you head into the new year? Did you know that people who set goals tend to have higher self-motivation, self-esteem, independence and confidence? Having goals gives us a sense of purpose and something to strive for—all important for mental health.
When setting goals, try to involve your values and ensure that you are challenging yourself while also setting goals that are realistic. This is especially important when it comes to setting goals around your mental health.
By striving to improve your mental health, you will also improve other areas of your life like relationships, school, career and physical health. If you are looking to set mental health goals for the new year, I have four ideas for you to consider.
Make Time for Mindfulness
Incorporating mindfulness practices into your daily routine can help reduce stress and anxiety, keep you centered, and help you focus on the present. Establishing a mindfulness routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Choose activities that work for you, and customize your mindfulness routine to fit your needs and lifestyle. You can incorporate mindfulness into your daily life in several ways:
- Deep breathing
- Mindful eating
- Coloring
- Listening to music
Set Boundaries
Boundaries are one of the best ways to take care of your mental health. When you understand how to set and maintain healthy boundaries, you can avoid the feelings of resentment, disappointment, and anger that build up when limits have been pushed. Having healthy boundaries establishes what behavior you will accept from other people, and it establishes what behavior other people can expect from you.
Prioritize Self Care
Self care isn’t selfish. In order to take care of others, you first have to take care of yourself. There are lots of ways to incorporate self care into your daily routine. Find activities that leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated and prioritize those things.
Go to Therapy
If you feel that you could use some help in improving your mental health, make it a goal to seek expert advice and find a therapist you trust. Therapy can help you make sense of what’s going on, create meaningful change, and get real results – because when you feel better, you live better.
Maaliea Wilbur is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Executive Director of TherapyWorks. With 10-plus years of experience, Maaliea’s broad-level expertise allows her to successfully support kids, teens, adults, couples and families. For information, visit mytherapyworks.com.
