As the new year approaches, it’s time to start thinking about ways to improve our mental health. Whether it’s dealing with stress, improving self-care practices, or finding more positive ways to think and act, setting goals for better mental health is an important part of leading a healthier and happier life.
If you or a loved one requires mental health treatment in New Jersey, we are here to help. Our wellness center can help you take the next steps toward healing.
Setting Goals for Mental Health in the New Year
As we enter the new year, we need to take time to reflect on what we have accomplished in the past year and how we can use our experiences to plan for the future. Setting goals for mental health in the new year is an important part of this process. Goals help provide a sense of structure and purpose which can be beneficial in depression and anxiety treatment.
Setting goals can help us focus on making positive changes that will lead to improved well-being. Goals can also give us something to strive for, helping us stay motivated and committed to making progress. Finally, having specific goals gives us measurable results that indicate our progress over time, helping us track our success and feel empowered by knowing we are achieving our goals.
The Dangers of Setting Unrealistic Goals
Creating several unrealistic goals for mental health in the new year can create a great deal of pressure and impose unrealistic pressure on oneself. Setting unrealistic goals sets expectations that are too high or difficult to achieve, which can lead to feelings of frustration, disappointment, and even failure when these goals are not achieved.
Too much pressure can impact an individual’s mental health and well-being by leading to feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, and even burnout. When an individual constantly strives to meet unrealistic goals, it can lead to a sense of hopelessness and helplessness from trying to reach an unreachable goal.
Consider our mental health treatment program in New Jersey if you or a loved one is struggling with mental illness. We can help you find freedom from your mental health disorder.
Statistics for Mental Health Resolutions in the New Year
According to the 2019 Global Resolution Study conducted by Mental Health America (MHA), about 70% of people who set New Year’s resolutions to improve their mental health followed through. This was up from 2018 when only 51% of people stuck to their resolution goals with regards to mental health.
Additionally, out of the group that followed through with their goals, 86% of them reported feeling better after reaching their goal. Finally, 83% of those surveyed said it was important to make resolutions that improved their mental health to lead a healthier lifestyle.
The Importance of Small and Realistic Goals
Easing into realistic and small goals first instead of resolutions is important because it gives you a greater chance of success. Resolutions are often big, ambitious goals that can be hard to keep. They also tend to be vague and abstract, making them difficult to stay motivated for. Small and realistic goals, on the other hand, are much easier to break down into manageable chunks. They are also more specific, allowing you to easily track your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Smaller goals are also more achievable and therefore more likely to be accomplished. When a goal is too big or vague, it can seem overwhelming or impossible, leading to giving up before you have even started. On the other hand, smaller and more measurable goals give individuals a sense of accomplishment when they complete them which in turn motivates them to continue striving for success.
Setting smaller and more realistic goals allows individuals flexibility in how they approach their goal-setting process. They don’t have to do what everyone else is doing or commit themselves blindly towards one goal at a time. Individuals can set multiple short-term goals that combine to create larger long-term achievements without feeling overwhelmed or disheartened by not achieving one resolution as quickly as they had hoped.
Achieving goals for mental health can be a challenging task to take on alone. Engaging in individual or group therapy can help you set and accomplish realistic goals with the help of a licensed therapist.
How Can a Person Create Healthy Goals and Resolutions?
Creating healthy goals and resolutions for mental health in the new year can be an incredibly rewarding process. It sets a person up for success in achieving their desired outcomes, while also promoting healthy habits and lifestyle changes. Here are some tips on how to create successful goals and resolutions for mental health in the new year:
- Define the goal: Start by writing down what goals you want to achieve in very specific terms. This will help clarify your vision of success and give you something to work towards.
- Set achievable milestones: Break down large goals into smaller, more achievable milestones. This will ensure progress is consistently being made towards the ultimate goal.
- Make sure it’s measurable: Find ways of measuring your mental health progress so that you can keep track of your successes along the way. This helps to reinforce motivation and encourages further progress.
- Create an action plan: List out all the steps that need to be taken to reach your goal or resolution, then assign deadlines to each one so that you have something concrete to work towards.
- Establish accountability: Find someone who can act as an accountability partner, such as a friend or family member, to help encourage and remind you when necessary. Family therapy can be a powerful tool for success!
- Celebrate successes: Remember to reward yourself for every milestone achieved along the way – this is often overlooked but is important for both motivation and morale!
Creating goals and resolutions for mental health in the new year can greatly improve your overall well-being. If you or a loved one is interested in therapy in New Jersey, don’t hesitate to seek help from our wellness facility.
Peak Wellness is Supportive of Mental Health Goals All Year Round
At Peak Wellness, we believe that mental health goals should be a priority year-round. We provide comprehensive and individualized care to meet each client’s needs. Our staff is committed to providing resources, education, and support for individuals working to achieve their mental health goals.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you or a loved one is struggling with mental illness. We want to help you start on the road to recovery today!