When we set goals, we often focus on professional yardsticks tied to career advancement or income level. They're easy to track.
But what about personal goals? It's harder to measure attempts to boost our happiness or overcome mental health challenges.
Whether you're trying to fight addiction or shift from a negative to positive mindset, pursuing an intangible goal can prove difficult. There's no clear finish line or indicator that you've hit your target.
You may also not be ready to improve your outlook or address mental health issues. Timing is key.
"If you have the wrong or unfeasible goal or one that's not the right fit for you, it can be a dead end," said Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of "The How Of Happiness."
To attain personal goals, apply sound strategies and hold yourself accountable even if it's hard to track your progress. How do you plow ahead when it's tricky to know how you're doing?
Advance In Stages When You Set Goals
Determined to conquer personal demons or reset your attitude, you may vow to make major life changes. But if you set goals too high, you have further to fall.
"It's better to break it down into baby steps," said Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at University of California, Riverside.
If you're lonely and want to make friends, for example, replace this lofty goal with a tactical one such as attending one social event per week.
Set Goals: Curb Your Enthusiasm
In your eagerness to embrace happiness or win mental health battles, your emotions can lead you to overreach. Beware of setting yourself up for failure by asking for too much, too soon.
"When setting a goal, you may think you'll do it but you overestimate it," Lyubomirsky warned. "The result is you don't accomplish the goal you think you will" due to the planning fallacy — a cognitive bias that leads us to inflate a positive outcome and make rosy projections while brushing aside the hard work it'll take to get there.
She suggests you set goals that are flexible and "can morph into something else" as you get underway.
Separate Right And Wrong Motivation
When pursuing personal goals, confirm that you are the one in charge. If you're driven by external factors, that's a red flag.
"Think about motivation behind the goal," Lyubomirsky said. Strive for self-concordant goals, which fit your values and personality. Steer clear of someone else's goals, whether it's a spouse or parent urging you on or societal norms guiding you.
Strike A Balance To Set Goals
Dwelling on your goal can be counterproductive. Don't get too caught up in it.
"If your goal is to be happier, asking yourself too often can make you less happy," Lyubomirsky said. "Focusing on it too much can be distracting. It's like checking a stock too often doesn't make it go up."
Brace For Setbacks
Conquering mental health goals takes fortitude. Expect adversity and muster the courage to keep going.
"I'm a big believer in journaling," said Lisa W. Miller, author of "The Business Of Joy." "There will be ups and downs. Not everything will be joyful," so record your progress — and struggles — with a healthy detachment.
Enlist Allies When You Set Goals
Chasing mental health goals on your own can prove isolating. So ask trusted allies to cheer you on.
"I have my own support system, including friends in the music industry," said Genevieve Racette, a Montreal-based singer-songwriter who has been sober for nearly eight years. "I also share my goals on social media. It helps that people are aware of my journey. It holds me accountable to know that I'm publicly sober and trying to inspire others."
