Ending a year and starting a new one is a great opportunity for you to set or rethink goals that motivate you to achieve things that are important to you. However, it is essential that your goals are realistic and that you can meet them in established times. Therefore, Antonella Galli, psychologist of our institution, gives us valuable tips to keep in mind.

Five aspects to consider

It is essential that you analyze the most relevant aspects of your life to set goals that will improve your physical, mental and emotional health. Here are some examples:

• Family aspect. Seek to improve communication with your loved ones, dedicate more time to the family, overcome limitations, strengthen the relationship with your in-laws, and make sure you have your own personal spaces.
• Labor aspect. Organize yourself better in your work, identify areas for improvement, recognize your strengths, establish clear goals about where you want to go, or even evaluate the possibility of changing your professional field, among other aspects.
• Personal level. Reflect on your personal development. Ask yourself what attitudes you need to develop with others and with yourself, analyze how your mental health is, how you feel, and whether you have changed for the better or for the worse. Identify what aspects you can improve. Consider strengthening your spirituality, self-esteem or practicing meditation and relaxation techniques. It is also important to take care of your physical health: maintain a healthy diet, visit a psychologist if you need to, or work on improving your physical appearance.
• Bonding development. Reflect on how you are treating your partner: are you being considerate, are you treating him/her with respect? Ask yourself these same questions about other members of your family, such as your siblings, parents, in-laws, as well as your friends and co-workers.
• Developing individual talents. Think about activities you enjoy or excel at, such as writing, painting, singing or playing sports. Pick up hobbies you’ve put aside or discover new talents, such as exploring story writing, taking up cycling or participating in marathons.

Remember:

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t achieve all the goals you set for yourself or if you don’t accomplish them perfectly. In life there will always be obstacles, and sometimes you will have to stop. The important thing is that you resume your goals when you feel ready. Consistency and commitment are key to achieving positive change.

Antonella Galli
Psychologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma