Setting goals and boundaries

Why is it important to set goals and boundaries?

Having good mental health is important for your overall health and wellbeing. Self-care can play a large role in maintaining your mental health. Self-care means taking time to do things for yourself, to improve your life. This might include things like getting regular exercise, eating healthy and spending time with friends.

Setting goals and priorities can also be a form of self-care. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if you’ve overcommitted yourself or have lots of tasks to do. Setting small, simple goals and prioritising what’s important can help you to be more productive.

Goal setting is also a technique used in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It can help people with depression and anxiety stick to simple tasks, such as getting out of bed earlier or going outside more. Setting goals can help you to feel more in control and motivated to achieve the things you want to do.

Having healthy boundaries can also help to protect your mental health. Boundaries are personal rules and limits you have on what you can do or what you accept from others. You may need to say ‘no’ to taking on more tasks when you’re already overstretched. Or, you might need to set boundaries within relationships by communicating your needs, and saying what you don’t want or like.

Setting boundaries can help you to take care of yourself by managing stress and improving your self-worth and self-esteem.

How do I set goals?

The first step to achieving your goals is to decide what they are. Think about what’s important to you.

Here are four tips on how to set healthy goals.

• 1. Focus on your strengths. Think about how you can use what you’re already good at to help you achieve a new goal.


• 2. Set positive goals. Try to frame your goals in a positive way. Instead of saying ‘I will lose weight’, try and reframe it to ‘I will be more active and healthier’.


• 3. Be realistic. Set goals that you know you’ll be able to do in your current circumstances.


• 4. Keep it simple. Simple goals are easier to achieve, which means you’re less likely to give up. Try to break down challenging goals into smaller steps.

You might find it helpful to use the SMART approach to set your goals.

• Specific. What is the exact goal?
• Measurable. How will you measure progress?
• Achievable. Is the goal realistic?
• Relevant. Will the goal help you achieve a long-term goal?
• Timely. When would you like to achieve it by?

How do I set boundaries?

The boundaries you set should help you to feel more in control and comfortable in certain situations.

Here are four tips on how to go about setting healthy boundaries.

• 1. Listen to yourself. Take time to reflect on your life and decide where you feel you need boundaries. Being self-aware can help you to understand your limits.


• 2. Communicate clearly. Describe your boundaries as clearly as possible. You can’t expect people to know what you need. You don’t have to over-explain your needs, as long as you’re clear.


• 3. Be honest. It’s important to be upfront about how you’re feeling. For example, if your workload is too high at work, let your manager or team know. It’s best to be honest about what you can handle.


• 4. Practice self-compassion. You might feel guilty about setting boundaries, or that you’re letting people down. Try to be kind to yourself. Remember that boundaries are necessary for your own mental wellbeing.