Setting Mental-Health Goals for the new year (Without Pressure or Perfection)

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Hopefully the "New Year New Me" is finally played out. Too much pressure to do a complete 180 and 9.8/10 we never reach the whole goal. The general rule in setting goals for yourself is not to constrict yourself into a specific box. Example "I will take better care of my body by eating healthier and exercising more" is healthier than "I will loose 100lbs and have a 6 pack by the Summer". Your focus is more on the journey then the pressure to be perfect as evidenced by doing unhealthy things to get to the goal. You can still hold yourself accountable, get a buddy system going, join a gym membership, whatever!

Please note, if your physician has told you to loose a specific amount of weight

by a specific time...please don't bring this blog into that conversation as a counter....

doctors orders take priority!

I am not a fan of New Year resolutions in the traditional sense. Any month is a good time to change. But if you must....this (like any year) is a good year to work on your mental health. An often overlooked area when planning the "New You". Below are some ideas (in no specific order) of mental health goals you may want to try.

Create and Implement Boundaries: This applies to ALL; family, friends, career, your partner/spouse	Ask yourself: What are your non-negotiables, what are the things needed to keep your peace in a relationship, what do you need in a healthy relationship, what is important to you?, what does work-life balance look like? Do you need to discern who will no longer have access to your time and energy?
Create Intentional Space For Yourself:	Treat this like a standing meeting that you can't move. Give yourself X amount of minutes each day/week (you should not go more than a week with out time to self...and that's pushing it!). Don't just wake up with enough time to shower, eat and dress....wake up a bit early to pray, do yoga, or stretch. Intentional space can be doing something that feeds your creative mind each week, just sitting in your favorite spot at the park, eating by yourself outside of work without your phone on, taking 15 minutes to do deep breathes and meditate in the middle of the day...you get the point! FEED YOUR PEACE AND JOY!
Implement Daily Affirmations Into Your Morning Routine	Create a list of 20-30 affirmations that speak to you and rotate through them. Make them apart of your phone wake up alarm message, leave yourself a sticky on the mirror the night before, change your computer wallpaper, or reflect on the affirmation in your journal. As a side note, sometimes people confuse affirmations with manifestations. Affirmations directly answer/speak to current negative cognitive thoughts where manifestations speak to a hope. Example I am deserving of love vs I will have a happy marriage.
Ask For Help More From Your Village/Supportive People	Sometimes we learned growing up or from previous relationships, to not ask for help. But when we have people who are supportive and want to see us thrive, we loose opportunities by not letting them in. Even when you can do it yourself, begin to challenge yourself by asking your village (mentors, friends, reliable ones) for help. Example, a ride to work, help with creating a resume, need a listening ear, need help with an oil change, need a place to sleep for the night...several opportunities.
Find A Therapist	You don't have to wait until you're burnt out or having self harm ideations to seek therapy. Therapy can be apart of your self care.

It is best to take small bites, meaning take on maybe 1-2 to start then once those are under your belt and you feel solid, add another one on in a few months. If by the end of the year you accomplished 3-4 goals, fantastic. If you accomplished 1-2, also fantastic with equal level of enthusiasm. You got this! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!