It’s that time of the year.  Everyone is getting ready to start setting their New Year’s Resolutions.  They might look like: lose ten pounds, join the gym, get a new job, etc.  People set resolutions at the beginning of the year and by June, those resolutions are long but forgotten.

For 2018, my recommendation is to look at the following eight areas of your life and assess where you are at in each area.  Once you have an idea of how you are functioning, you can set goals in each area.  Make small goals for yourself so that you don’t overwhelmed yourself by setting the bar too high.  Sometimes taking a series of small steps can help you get to your goal just as fast as trying to sprint.  Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare?  Keep that in mind as you get goals for 2018.  

Areas of focus and goal setting for 2018

1. Financial

Identify one or two things you can do differently this year.

• Start a savings account and automatically deposit money in it
• Ask for a raise from your company and use your raise to pay off debts

2. Career

Ask yourself “Am I happy at work?”.  

• If you are happy, set some goals with your boss or yourself on ways you can continue to thrive
• If you are unhappy, find a new job or find a way to create happiness.  This might look like taking a class at the community college or applying for a new job.  Life is too short to be miserable at work.  

3. Health and Wellness

This is one of the most popular areas to set New Year’s resolutions in.  You can set a goal that works for you.  As opposed to setting a weight goal, focus on other tangible goals, such as weightlifting goals or beating your personal record for running

• Run a 5K without walking
• Bench press your weight!  
• Schedule your yearly doctor’s appointments

4. Love/Relationships

While some people might make it a goal to get into a relationship or to improve some aspect of their relationship, the only real thing you have control over is your role in your love life.  

• Create a gratitude list everyday for your partner
• Work with a therapist to identify reasons why you haven’t been in a healthy relationship

5. Social Life

For adults, scheduling time with friends can be one of the hardest things you do.  Also, adults tend to get their socialization from family members, especially if you have siblings.  Having a social life, to some extent, is important to having a well-balanced life.

• Make a commitment to meet your friends once a month for happy hour
• Celebrate your birthday by having your friends and family involved, thus killing two birds with one stone

6. Learning

Learning isn’t just for students.  It’s another important aspect of having a well-balanced life.  Figure out your best learning style and try something new

• Set a goal to read a certain amount of books this year
• Make a commitment to learn a new language
• Take a cool class on a skill you never thought you would be interested in

7. Spiritual

How you define and experience spirituality is up to you.  People have different ideals and values when it comes to spirituality.  Make goals and commitments based on how you experience spirituality.

• Attend a yoga retreat with two of your friends
• Create a calendar for regular church attendance
• Start a regular meditation practice

8. Fun

Make sure to include some fun things for yourself for this year!

• Make a list of twelve fun things you want to do this year and schedule one a month

Happy New Year’s to all of my readers.  If you need extra support in setting and achieving your 2018 goals, please give my office a call so we can begin our work together.

Amanda Patterson, LMHC, CAP , Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counseling Association,  decided to become a therapist while attending Nova Southeastern University. She saw the need to help people achieve the life they wanted to live, while creating a life of her own. She completed her master’s in Mental Health Counseling and started a career in the juvenile justice arena. Amanda has been a therapist for ten years and has a private practice in Wellington, Florida, specializing in depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and substance abuse in teenagers and young adults. Amanda is a believer in holistic treatment and she practices veganism, meditation and yoga in her life. Find out more about her practice here.

To schedule an appointment, call or text Amanda at 561-223-1066 or email her at amanda@amandapattersonlmhc.com