01/07/2026
💭The beginning of a new year often gets us thinking about goals and what we want to change, grow, or work toward. If goal-setting has felt overwhelming or discouraging in the past, using SMART goals can help make intentions feel more realistic.
💡SMART is a framework that helps turn big ideas into manageable steps:
📋S – Specific: What exactly are you working toward? Be specific about what you want to accomplish. Think about this as the mission statement for your goal. This isn’t a detailed list of how you’re going to meet a goal, but it should include an answer to the popular ‘w’ questions (Who, What, When, Where, Which, Why).
🧮M – Measurable: How will you know you’re making progress? Examples could be numbers, frequency, or simple check-ins with yourself. This makes a goal more tangible because it provides a way to measure progress.
🏅A – Achievable: Is this goal realistic given your current time, energy, and resources? This focuses on how important a goal is to you and what you can do to make it attainable and may require developing new skills and changing attitudes. The goal is meant to inspire motivation, not discouragement.
❣️R – Relevant: Why does this goal matter to you? Meaningful goals are easier to stay connected to when motivation dips.
⏱️T – Time-Bound: What’s the timeframe? Having a general deadline can help create structure.
✨Remember: goals don’t have to be perfect, extreme, or all-or-nothing to be valuable. Small, intentional steps add up, and progress looks different for everyone.
🤍As we navigate this new year, consider setting goals that support your mental health, not ones that compete with it.
