Goal Setting for Stress Reduction

January 13, 2023 / Get Well

Because Monday is a holiday and the College is closed, we are running our Monday health campaign information today.

Monday is for taking a fresh approach to re-imagining your future. Change is within your reach. Setting goals and seeing the outcome you want is a way to reset your personal and professional intentions. This Monday, take a few minutes to close your eyes and set your intentions.

  1. What is a goal you are trying to achieve? Bring to mind what you want to achieve. Remind yourself why you want to reach the goal and imagine how it will make you feel when you reach it.
  2. Think about the small, manageable actions you need to take this week to get there. You may find it helpful to write them down.
  3. If you slip up during the week, accept it as part of the process of change, refresh your intention, and get back on track.

Give yourself a valuable gift on your wellness journey by checking out this infographic from Happify for science-backed ways to power up your intentions and stick to your goals. Topics include:

  • Get Set for Self-Improvement (set your intentions)
  • Choose the Right Goal
  • Make Your Goals S.M.A.R.T. (For additional helpful guidance on setting smart health goals, spend a few minutes watching this brief video or digging deeper video with the adorable Tim and Moby from BrainPop.)  
  • Seek Social Support (Revisit the  Push Pal concept introduced in the fall.)

Remember, taking one step at a time is part of meeting a goal. Moreover, it’s important to celebrate even small measures as successes. When you look at your achievements this way, you can feel less stress and experience positive motivation. According to Harvard Health Publishing, goal setting reduces stress and eases the physical and emotional burden it can take. 

Click on Placing Your Goals within Reach — and Your Stress Far Away for more related information from mondaycampaigns.org.  

Monday Campaign: Weekly Check Ins
Mindful awareness, accountability, goal setting and tracking progress are evidence-based techniques that enhance the success of a wellness plan. Each week, the Monday Campaign participants are invited to use the weekly check- Ins (Weekly Check In, Jan 16th.) to help you;

  • Remain motivated;
  • Reflect on your progress;  
  • Consider how you will work with your Push Pal to get the most effective results from your wellness experiences; and
  • Recommit to your weekly goals.

Together we can turn intentions into actions.

This Monday, place your goals within reach--and your stress far away. Re-imagine your future by focusing on simple, doable steps to make progress. Illustrations of 1: a fit bit, checklist and tennis shoe; healthy fruits and drinking cup to measure water intake; graduation cap, books and a rolled-up diploma to show an active brain. DeStress Monday dot org; Hashtag de stress monday.

 

Submitted by:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, HR-Chief Wellness Officer, DHTett@nvcc.edu