How To Set Mental Health Goals To Help Yourself Get Better
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Good mental health is just as important as physical health.
Unfortunately, many people do not pay enough attention to their mental health and what can affect it.
Even people who are aware of their mental health issues (like people with anxiety, depressions and ADD) sometimes do not pay extra attention to things that could improve their well-being.
However, being mentally healthy should definitely be on the top of your list of priorities.
In this article, you will find several tips on how you can set non-overwhelming mental health goals to gradually improve your mental health throughout your life.
By doing so, you may decrease the chances of relapsing, and maybe even say your mental health issues goodbye.
How To Set Non-Overwhelming Mental Health Goals
1. Pick smart mental health goals that matter to you.
There are many different ways to create mental health goals.
You can begin by brainstorming general ideas for your goals.
From there, you can expand on those general ideas into detailed, specific mental health goals that you can work towards achieving each day.
Here’s an example: you would like to have less anxiety on a regular basis.
This is your ultimate mental health goal.
To achieve it, you can set smaller mental health goals that help you to reach your main goal, like:
- Read less news online;
- Avoid social media;
- Eat healthy meals every day;
- Exercise or go for walks;
- Minimize your anxiety triggers.
Having a list like this will set a few small tasks for each day and soon you’ll be amazed at how much progress you’re making, just because you have set a few mental health goals for yourself.
P.S.
Do you struggle with PTSD or eating disorders?
Many people have found mental health goals to be very helpful when trying to recover from a traumatic event or when trying to maintain a healthy level of body weight.
2. Evaluate your mental health goals periodically.
This will help you keep your commitment to your mental health goals.
Every weekend ask yourself if you’ve been working on your mental wellness.
If your mental health goals are not met, evaluate whether you need to make adjustments to your goal setting.
You can do this by asking yourself questions like:
- Am I really committed?
- Ar my mental health goals realistic?
- Is my goal appropriate to my current emotional state?
- Am I not asking too much of myself?
- Should I take it a bit easier?
As previously mentioned, you should evaluate your mental health goals weekly.
Doing so will help you monitor your progress and adjust on the way.
3. Always be aware of how you’re feeling mentally.
When working on your mental health goals, try not to fall into the trap though!
I’ve did it more than once, so I don’t want you to make my mistake:
Working on your mental health goals should not stress you more than your actual issue.
This is important.
I used to relapse into the worst anxiety attack just because I was trying so hard to not have another anxiety attack.
See the problem?
I was constantly stressing myself to not be anxious, when instead I should just have to let it all go easy.
So try to be aware of how you’re feeling to make sure you’re non-overwhelming mental health goals are actually not making you feel overwhelmed.
P.S.
It’s very useful to track and inspect your thoughts and emotions with a mental health workbook.
4. When you set your mental health goals, be sure to stick with them.
Some people may have short-term goals such as improving interpersonal relationships, overcoming negative mood, becoming less stress, or achieving a certain physical activity level in a specific amount of time.
However, these goals should not be abandoned once they are achieved too.
It’s more than easy to fall back to old habits and it can result in an unnecessary flood of negativity in your life.
If you’ve achieved something, try your best to maintain it.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
One important thing you need to know is that it’s completely normal to not achieve your mental health goals from the first time.
These goals are continuous and it’s okay even if you will be working on them your whole life.
However, doing this with support may be easier for some people.
And it has never been easier to get help when you have a mental health concern.
In this day and age there are many places to turn to for help.
Many communities have resources available to anyone who suffers from anxiety or depression.
If you suffer from one of these conditions there are options available to you as well.
You can find a counselor, a therapist, even a supportive partner or friend can help you with your mental health goals.
The best thing about it is that you are not alone, and help is available.
Mental Health Goals Can Help Your Life To Become Easier.
Depression, anxiety, low self-confidence, trust issues, PTSD, bipolar… People suffering from these conditions tend to have difficult times dealing with day to day living.
Many people find that they have trouble focusing on simple tasks, like driving to work or preparing a meal.
I have openly shared on this website that I too have a mental health issue (anxiety) and I know how hard it sometimes gets.
One of the best ways to improve the quality of your life is to set easy, gentle and non-overwhelming mental health goals for yourself.
When you set these goals, you give yourself something to work on.
When you do this on a regular basis, things begin to improve for you.
Setting mental health goals for yourself makes you more determined to reach them, and in many cases you are inspired to do so.
If you feel or know that you may have one or more of these disorders it is important to start setting mental health goals to improve the overall quality of your life.
Once you are feeling better, your mental health will also improve.
Start small.
Don’t overwork yourself.
Just do a few little things every day that could help you.
Like this mental health goals guide?
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