The new year is all about a fresh start, a time to make changes or resolutions. But, these things don’t just have to be unique to the new year, you can set goals and achieve them anytime. You just have to follow a few simple guidelines to make your goal a reality.
At Rooted & Rising, we help clients to set and achieve specific goals every day. In fact, positive goal setting is an important part of mental health. If you don’t like something about your life, do something about it. Setting a goal and working towards it is an act of you taking control over your life. It is not always easy, as it shouldn’t be, achieving results takes work but everyone has the ability to go after what they really want in life.
Here are some of the tips our counselors and therapists give people for how to make and achieve goals:
1.) Determine where you want to go
How do you see your life in a year? What does the future look like once you have achieved your goals? What is most important to you? Brainstorm the areas you want to make improvements. List them out. Ask yourself — is this something you truly want? Is it important enough to prioritize and pour effort into?
2.) Be specific
Once you have figured out the areas in your life where you want to make improvements, set specific, measurable goals and give yourself a time limit. For example, you could decide you want to lose 10 pounds in the next six months. Or, you may want to gain 10 more clients for your job in the next year.
3.) Set a road map for your goal
Now that you have the goal — how are you going to get there? What smaller goals can you achieve each day or week to get you to the bigger result. For example, you could decide to get up early to work out every day for six months. Or, you could give up alcohol for 30 days. Or, send one networking email a week for the next year. It is important that you don’t just say “I want to do better with my health,” or “I want to grow my career.” Be specific in how you are going to get there.
4.) Write down your goals and tell a friend
Everyone needs accountability whether to themselves or to others. Write down your goals and put them somewhere you can see them each day (like your bedroom mirror or the back of your bedroom door). Tell a friend or family member your goals so that you are accountable to someone. It is a lot harder to give up on a goal once you have told someone about it.
5.) Set realistic and measurable goals
Your brain needs a deadline and some type of measurement to take a goal seriously, otherwise it is easier to keep putting it off. Measurements boost motivation so you stay emotionally invested in your goal. Where do you want to be in 30 days? 60 days? 90 days? Be realistic. It is not realistic for you to gain 10 new clients in a week. It is not realistic to lose 20 pounds in a month. Make sure your goals are attainable.
6.) Schedule time to re-evaluate your progress
It is important that you keep motivated to achieve your goal. Set specific times to check in with yourself or an accountability partner to evaluate your progress and see if any changes need to be made. What are you going to do to stay motivated? Maybe make your check-in once a month or every two weeks.
7.) Offer yourself a reward for meeting your goal
Sometimes you need a little extra motivation to get to the goal. Maybe there is a conference you want to attend, a trip you want to take, or a piece of clothing or jewelry you want to purchase. Tell yourself if you achieve your goal you can have xyz.
Get Help
If you know you want to make changes in your life but are unsure of where to start or how to get there, consider seeking the help of a licensed mental health professional. A counselor or therapist can help you to develop a plan that works for your life. Everyone is capable of change, sometimes you just need a guide to help you get there.
Ready to begin counseling in PA?
The professionally trained and licensed counselors at Rooted & Rising Therapy in Pittsburgh have openings. Our practice specializes in treating individuals through years of experience, we’re confident that no problem is too great to overcome. Through therapy, there is always a way to address the issues you face and learn coping strategies to help you both right now and in the future. Just call our office at (412) 228-8489 or email us at info@rootedandrisingtherapy.com to get started to feeling better today. We are here for you.