Setting goals supports psychological health; Begin new year with clean slate

It’s a new year and for some that means a clean slate to set some personal goals or the more cliché term, resolutions.

Personally, I like setting “goals” as opposed to “resolutions.” To some, these terms may seem interchangeable but they are not. A resolution is a firm decision to do or not do something. A goal is the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.  

Goals also tend to be more personal and therefore offer a greater reward. For example, a goal to achieve advancement at work or obtain higher education. These goals are personal, achievable, obtainable and realistic.

Now for resolutions; maybe the most common resolution of achieving a healthier weight. Sounds familiar right? Ever notice that if you are a habitual gym goer that the months of January and February are the busiest of the year? Why? Because New Year’s Day and with New Year’s Day the tradition of resolutions. But have you ever noticed as a habitual gym goer that by March the number of people in the gym has dwindled down to the faithful attendees before the New Year?

While there are many benefits to a healthier physique, if going to the gym and eating healthier doesn’t become a habit the resolution made goes by the waste side. And because it was a resolution the innate feeling of failure isn’t there.

However if achieving better health and setting obtainable goals to do so such as small dietary changes integrating a walk on your lunch break for physical exercise where an individual can feel the difference and adjust the goal to a bigger or smaller aim.

And there you have it you, you just achieved a goal by making a small change to your routine or habitual schedule and because the result is felt or seen you may be more inept to set bigger goals.

Achieving goals can give you a dopamine boost a feel good neurotransmitter that will improve your overall psychological health.

Are you ready to set some goals but don’t know where to start? Here are some pointers for getting started.

• Start small. Depending on what you want to focus on make a small and reasonable change. This is important to keep goals small and obtainable so you don’t experience a negative effect and feelings of failure.

   

• Check in frequently with the goals you have set for yourself. What is the time frame you’ve initially started with and where are you now? Remember to be flexible and give yourself more time or adjust if needed.

• Don’t forget to reward yourself for any goal achievement. Rewarding yourself reinforces the dopamine effect and supports the positive achievement and change.

   

  For more support on goal setting, please feel free to contact your wing DPH 937-257-6267 or 937-701-1124, or visit building 4010, room 166.