Often, when we set goals for our lives and health, we only focus on the physical. By doing this, we ignore a piece of the puzzle that can affect our ability to succeed in these goals…mental health.
While creating the list of realistic goals, we should include a few that have to do with our mental and emotional health. Why bother, though?
Mental health is vital to every aspect of our life. Keep reading, and we will discuss 3 reasons that we think you should take the time to set mental health goals, too!
What Are Mental Health Goals?
Like with anything having to do with emotions or mental attributes, it is hard to quantify just what is a mental health goal. Sometimes, they will be very similar to your physical goals (or even be the same as those goals), and other times, they will be completely intangible.
For instance, one of your mental health goals could be to get more exercise. At first glance, this would seem like a physical goal (and it is), but the goal also plays a role in mental health.
The physical activity will release hormones that can relieve stress and help reduce anxiety. Plus, getting moving can also get out some of your mental frustration. This, of course, will depend on the individual.
On the other hand, you may set a goal like learning to say “No” or learn to say “Yes”. These are both mental health goals but have no physical component (other than speaking). However, this goal could open up new confidence and opportunities for you in the future.
Reasons to Set Them
The biggest reason to include mental health goals in your plan is that you will be challenging your whole self and not just the physical.
There are also some great benefits you can take advantage of when you decide to include mental health goals along with your career and other health goals. Here are the ones we think fall into the top 3 slots.
Help With Productivity
Have you ever had a day where everything on your mind is negative and clouded with the stress and anxiety from the rest of your life? We all have, and that is when having a positive mental health outlook can help us get back on track and stay productive in whatever we do.
Adding mental health goals like mindfulness practices, meditation, or even just setting aside time to turn off the world and be with your own thoughts can have a huge impact on your productivity.
Thus, including a few mental health goals can actually help you with your career goals, too!
Keeps Your Dreams Alive
Frustration can creep in quickly if you let it, and when that comes to your dreams, that could just be the silent killer. By adding mental health goals like journaling or gratitude statements, you can help your mental and emotional self remember what you are working so hard for.
Mental health also plays a role in your drive and productivity (as we mentioned above), and if these two aspects suffer, so do your dreams. Having a few goals that deal with clarity of thought and removing stress could be just the thing you need to make those dreams come true.
Improves Overall Health
It is just a matter of fact that the better your mental health is, the better your overall health will be. Taking actions that will relieve stress, anxiety, or just make you happy can play a role in your sleep patterns and your eating habits.
If you want a full life reboot, you have to include some mental health goals. This will help with your sanity, as well as everything else that goes into the pot when you are trying to have a happy life.
Summary
Mental health often gets overlooked in the rat race to make it to that big dream, but it shouldn’t be overlooked.
Your mental health may well be the pivotal piece of the puzzle. Without a healthy outlook on life and clarity of thought, you may find yourself running continually in that hamster wheel!
