Personally, my mental health is in a much better place when I have a clear mindset. To achieve a clear mindset, I like to set goals and create a plan in setting those goals. Creating goals and a plan to achieve them allows me to figure out where I’m going next. Goal-setting is also beneficial because it gives us something to look forward to. Often times I find myself feeling stuck, hopeless, foggy. I look to my goals and it helps these feelings go away. Remember: if your plan doesn’t work out make a new one. Goals and plans are not linear. They’re like a road map sometimes with many detours but with a clear destination in mind. You’ll get there eventually with patience and determination.
I like to keep a planner and write out my goals. Other places to keep your goals could be in a journal or on your phone whatever works for you. Get creative in goal-setting: make it colorful, use sticky notes, create a bullet journal, customize your planner or make an online template.
Goals can be as specific as you want them to be however, you do not have to go into detail. However, by adding detail it can help you create your specific plan in obtaining your goals.
Basic Goal-Setting:
STEP ONE – Identify three *goals
STEP TWO – Identify one **objective for each goal
STEP THREE – Create a plan
STEP FOUR – Execute that plan
*Goal: “The object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.”
**Objective: “A specific result that a person or system aims to achieve within a time frame and with available resources.”
EXAMPLE:
Goal – To drink one half-gallon of water per day to maintain the recommended daily water intake for my health.
Objective – Utilize an 8oz. reusable water bottle to drink water and repeat 8 times daily to equal one-half gallon of water.
Brain Food 