Chapter 3

Setting Goals

Identifying what you hope for yourself is important to help you set future goals.

Goals can be used as a compass and map to keep you on your path, track your progress, and take the steps towards your desired outcomes.

Now that you know your unique strengths and values and have identified your future hopes, these can be used to set goals that matter most to you.

Goals allow you to move forward, giving you focus, motivation, confidence, and control to build the life you want for yourself (your best life).

Setting goals helps you get to where you want to go and be.

Worksheet 3: My Wellness SMART Goals

Worksheet 3 is a great activity to help you reflect on your current life and what your best life would look like. After writing the letter to yourself, make sure you keep it somewhere safe so you can reflect on it regularly to keep you on track.

SMART Goals

Sometimes bigger goals might feel daunting, however your APMHA mental health clinician can help you break your goals into smaller steps so that you can work towards them.

Setting SMART Goals can help you clarify you ideas, focus your efforts, use your time and resources productively and increase your chances of achieving what you set out to achieve.

Using these SMART principles below can help you write goals that are clear, attainable and meaningful. Having clarity in your goal setting can help you stay motivated and focused.

S — Specific:

What is the thing you want to do?

Guidance: Is it Simple, Sensible, and/or Significant?

M — Measurable:

How will you track your progress or know when you’ve reached your goal?

Guidance: Is it Meaningful and/or Movating?

A — Achievable:

Do you have the skills and resources?

Guidance: Is it Attainable/Achieveable?

R — Realistic:

Does it work towards your long-term goals?

Guidance: Is it Reasonable/Realistic?

T — Time:

What is a realistic time frame?

Guidance: Is it Time-Sensative and/or Time/Cost Limited?