What kind of goals should you set for 2021? If you’re a health-conscious individual or you’re in recovery, you may be considering some self-care resolutions. Here are our suggestions for how to set appropriate physical and mental health goals for 2021.

How Be Successful at Setting Physical Health Goals

Physical health goals can be tricky to set — not because they aren’t worth it, but because we tend to be impatient with ourselves. We often set goals for healthy eating and exercise without getting any support (from friends, coaches, or experts), and then we expect to see progress immediately. Before we know it, we’ve abandoned our physical health goals altogether.

To be more successful with your physical health goals this year, break your big goal into bite-sized steps. For instance, if your goal is to exercise five times a week and cook at home four nights a week, begin with exercising and cooking at home just once a week. Even better, try a meal prep service and enlist a friend or coach to make it easier to stay on track. It’s better to be making slow progress in March than to give up entirely in February!

What Kind of Mental Health Goals Should You Set?

Mental health doesn’t often make it into our goals for the new year, but it certainly should. This past year has proven how critical our mental health is to our overall sense of well-being. Perhaps you’d like to pursue yoga or meditation this year. Those are excellent options, and there are many more to consider. For example, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation recommends the following mental health goals:

1. Set boundaries. Boundaries are about respecting your personal health and taking appropriate responsibility. They allow you to take ownership of your choices while helping you refrain from taking inappropriate responsibility for the behavior and emotions of others. Learning how to set and enforce boundaries is a valuable skill that will give you greater satisfaction in life.
2. Say “yes” to counseling. Maybe you’ve never been, or maybe you stopped going a long time ago. Counseling doesn’t have to be intensive to be beneficial. A counselor can be a trusted ally and a listening ear for the ups and downs of your daily life. Commit to finding a counselor and attending at least a few sessions to see how your wellness may improve. 
3. Ask for help if you need it. Most of us are not skilled at asking for help. We want to see ourselves as self-sufficient, and we want others to see us that way, too. But as capable as we may be, we can’t do it all — and we shouldn’t try. It’s healthy to be able to ask for help when you need it. Refusing to acknowledge your need just allows the situation to get worse.

Whatever goals you choose to set, be sure to connect with a friend or family member and share them! This can help you stay on track when you lose motivation or momentum. 

Help for Addiction and Mental Health Issues at BeWell Network

BeWell Network is a family of evidence-based treatment centers. We help individuals suffering from addiction find the path to recovery, offering customized treatment experiences for the restoration of the mind, body, and spirit. If you or a loved one is seeking help for an addiction or mental health issue, please get in touch with our team today. We can assess your situation and recommend treatment options, verifying your benefits for free. We have a no-hassle billing process and are committed to providing treatment designed specially for you.