Goal Setting

Goal setting is important for those who want to improve their life. Setting goals helps you remain accountable for the things you want to achieve. There are many great techniques when it comes to setting goals. Setting goals can not only impact mental health, but it can also help you overcome depression and help you with rehabilitation. Goal setting acts as a roadmap for you to follow when it comes to overcoming challenges and achieving things in life.

How Goal-Setting Can Impact Mental Health
According to Rose & Smith, (2018), collaborative goal setting is a robust method when it comes to mental health support. The study, which gathered data over a 14-month time frame found that goal achievement and the strength of a working alliance were demonstrated to have a positive effect on personal recovery, for those in the study.

The GROW Acronym
The GROW acronym is another good model when it comes to tools for recovery.

G – Goal
R – Reality
O – Options
W – Way Forward

G stands for goal.
When it comes to setting goals, it's important to hone in on what you really want. When setting goals, it's a good idea to be more specific, rather than general. Being specific will help you fine-tune your goal. Asking detailed questions can also help you get more specific about your goal.

R stands for reality.

As you get further into your goals it's also imperative to be realistic.
Try and ask yourself what is happening in terms of your goal at the present moment.
What kinds of activities have you taken in support of this goal?
What kinds of results have you seen thus far?
If you are struggling with this goal, you may need to adjust your goal and be more realistic.

O stands for options.

What options have you explored in terms of achieving this goal?
What are some other ways you can move forward?
What else have you learned?
What are the pros and cons of each of these options?

W stands for options.

What will you do once you have achieved this goal?
What kinds of obstacles can you envision you might face?
How can you plan ahead and come up with some strategies ahead of time?
You can also rate your success or the possibility of achievement on a 1–10 scale. The number 1 means you have no certainty of achieving this goal and 10 means you have 100% certainty of achieving this goal.
List three small steps you could take to start bringing yourself closer to this goal within the next 24 hours. This could be something simple like making a phone call, buying a personal journal or purchasing a healthy recipe guide.