Are you being S.M.A.R.T. about your mental health?
Goals are an important part of your life. They allow you to be future focused and create a better version of yourself. Often people set finance and physical health goals but forget to also set mental health goals.
Mental health goals focus on your overall wellness, giving you the ability to handle stressful situations as they arise. The best way to write any goal is to use the S.M.A.R.T. method.
The S.M.A.R.T. method helps you set goals that are more achievable. It stands for: Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relatable and Time-bound. Instead of a blanket statement, such as “I want to improve my mental health,” a S.M.A.R.T. goal would provide an actionable and detailed way you will attain improved mental health.
Here are some examples of S.M.A.R.T. mental health goals that you can personalize:
Practice meditation
“I will meditate every morning for five minutes before starting my day.”
Improve sleep
“I will stick to my nighttime routine and go to bed by 10 p.m. every night.”
Help others
“I will volunteer the first Saturday of each month at the local animal shelter to bring myself joy.”
Read more
“I will read on my deck every Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon for relaxation.”
Be consistent with journaling
“I will journal every night before bed to clear my mind.”
Attend therapy
“I will attend one therapy session every month.”
Make time for self-care
“I will get a pedicure once a month for self-care.”
Writing down mental health goals and evaluating them once a week helps keep you on track and more likely to succeed. It might seem silly at first, but reading your own written words can be a powerful reminder of what you want to achieve. Remember, it is never too late to start working on mental health wellness. The most important thing you can do is start.
Looking for a doctor or behavioral health specialist? Find one that’s right for you in Illinois or Wisconsin.
Jennifer Kober is a behavioral health registered nurse at Advocate Health Care.
Thank you. This is a thoughtful article and sample lists.
Very helpful article! Thank you!
I need this Now!!! Love the Great ideas for my Memory & time for me to start Concentrating on me, myself and I.
Great suggestions for mental health SMART goals! The more defined the goals, the more likely we are to achieve them 🙂