MENTAL HEALTH CHECK-IN ?
When it comes to setting mental health goals, the goals should follow the SMART process. When setting a SMART mental health goal, ensure each goal follows this simple structure to increase your chances of success.
Specific – Goals to improve mental health should be clear and specific. Once you have set your goal, you can then implement activities into your daily routine that will contribute to you successfully achieving your chosen mental wellbeing goals.
Measurable – It’s also important to have measurable mental health goals. This makes it easy to reflect on the success of your progress. Being able to measure your goals also helps you stay motivated as you work toward your target.
Achievable – Probably the most important aspect of SMART goal setting for mental health. If you set yourself an unrealistic and unachievable goal, this could knock you back further if you were unsuccessful in completing the goal. Small steps forward are the best way to approach mental health – look to challenge and improve yourself without overextending your natural abilities.
Relevant – Make sure the goal you are setting is relevant to improving your mental health. If you set yourself a goal that isn’t aligned with the direction you want to head, this could consume valuable time and repay your efforts with little reward.
Timed – Every goal needs a target date so you have a deadline to focus on and work towards. If your goal lacks unrealistic timing, you are less likely to succeed, so be realistic when setting time-related targets. Mental health goals are often long term recovery processes. If something could take you 4 months to achieve, set mini targets in between to measure progress. Being able to see incremental results throughout the process is a great tool for motivation.