Are You Being S.M.A.R.T. about Your Mental Health?

Most of us have heard about S.M.A.R.T. goals, as many are required to develop and submit S.M.A.R.T. goals as part of our performance evaluations. The S.M.A.R.T. goal method is designed to help us set more achievable goals. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relatable, and Time-bound. Having S.M.A.R.T. goals often helps to eliminate generalities and broad statements. It also makes it easier to track our progress, identify missed milestones and/or deadlines, and provide time/space to course-correct if necessary. Often, it takes practice to learn how to write S.M.A.R.T. goals. Here is a guide to writing S.M.A.R.T. goals and a template to help you get started.

In addition to using S.M.A.R.T. goals in the workplace, some people find it helpful to employ them in areas outside the work environment ─ finances, physical health, leisure activities, etc. Another area where having S.M.A.R.T. goals might prove beneficial is mental health. Mental health goals focus on your overall wellness, allowing you to manage stressful situations as they arise. This article suggests that instead of a blanket statement, such as “I want to improve my mental health,” a S.M.A.R.T. goal would provide an actionable and detailed way you will attain improved mental health. The article offers several examples of S.M.A.R.T. mental health goals you can personalize. One good thing about having S.M.A.R.T. goals is that they require us to put them in writing and evaluate our progress periodically. This helps us stay on track and makes it more likely that we will succeed. The previously mentioned article suggests that “reading your own written words can be a powerful reminder of what you want to achieve. Remember, it is never too late to start working on mental health wellness. The most important thing you can do is start.”

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