22 Dec Setting Goals for 2022
With 2021 coming to an end, a popular theme that I hear in therapy sessions is setting goals for the new year. Sometimes this theme can bring on a lot of stress as many want to set goals because of the tradition of setting a New Year’s resolution. Here are some helpful tips for setting goals for the new year.
Tips for Setting Goals for the New Year
1. Do not just set a goal because you feel like you have to. Like I mentioned above, many people will set goals for the new year because they feel like they have to set a New Year’s resolution. If you do not feel ready to start working on a goal in January, it may be better to wait until you feel ready. You can work on a new goal anytime of the year.
2. Set realistic goals for yourself. This also includes setting realistic timelines for yourself. For example, if you are someone who never goes to the gym, it may be difficult to achieve a goal of going to the gym everyday right away. A more realistic goal may be to choose two days a week where you will go to the gym and then gradually increase the days.
3. Do not compare yourself to others. This is easier said than done but a good way to practice this can be decreasing time spent on social media. It’s common for many of us to go on social media and compare ourselves to others. This can lead to us setting goals for ourselves based on what we are seeing others set for themselves on social media instead of setting goals that are more individualized for ourselves.
4. Take COVID into consideration. As we all know, COVID precautions are changing daily. This may disrupt a goal that you set for yourself and you may have to think outside of the box to achieve the goal you originally set for yourself or to think of a new goal.
How Therapy can Help with Goal Setting
Attending therapy sessions can be a useful tool for goal setting. You may be experiencing mental health symptoms such as anxiety or depression symptoms that are negatively impacting setting or achieving a goal. A therapist can help you with managing mental health symptoms by teaching you how to implement coping skills. A therapist can also help you with identifying realistic goals to set and help you learn how to manage situations that may be out of your control such as changing COVID precautions. If you are ready to learn more about how a therapist can help you with goal setting, please contact us at 212-433-2384 or info@parkavenuepsychotherapy.com.