Meeting Physical and Mental Health Goals Should be Top Priority

These days it can feel like a lot of the world’s problems are out of our control. While there are surely plenty of issues we can’t solve, our actions still have an impact. The best way to use your energy to create change is to invest in yourself— body, mind and soul.

This concept is easy to grasp, but many people get lost in the process and find that change is too difficult. When this occurs, it’s important to look at how we better achieve success by setting realistic and short-term goals.

If you’re looking to improve your overall health, let this article act as a guide, laying the foundation as you commit to becoming better than the person you were yesterday. Here are some short-term goals to get you started.

Get the rest you need

According to the Mayo Clinic, adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night. Not only does the amount of sleep matter, though, but the frequency and regularity of your rest are essential for quality sleep. 

While you’re sleeping there are dozens of key physical and mental processes occurring. According to the Sleep Foundation, there are many perks of a healthy sleep routine. Here are some benefits you can expect.

• More daytime alertness and energy
• Improved ability to fight off illness
• Decrease risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and other medical conditions
• Improved mental health
• Decreased risk of accidents due to tiredness
• Increased focus
• Can help you maintain a healthy weight
• Better social interactions

Prioritizing sleep is an important short-term physical health goal that will pay off in the long run. It’s also a goal you can start working on tonight, and the sooner you start the sooner you’ll start noticing the results.

Get active

Exercise is one of the most beneficial short-term physical health goals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio and two days of muscle-strengthening activity each week. The easiest way to divide this up is to aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, five days a week.

Starting a workout routine is intimidating. Those who do overcome barriers to working out often start too strong, and don’t give their body time to adapt to new movements. The key to building a sustainably active lifestyle is to start slow and incorporate activities that are joyful.

Drink plenty of water

If you find yourself thirsty, it’s a sure sign that your body is dehydrated. Instead, aim to drink water consistently throughout the day, preventing thirst in the first place. Your body demands water for essential functions. According to the Harvard Medical School, you should be drinking two to three cups of water per hour (unless you’re in the middle of a sweat-sesh, then it’s more).

One of the best ways to reach this goal is to use a water bottle that’s marked by times of the day, so you can ensure you’re monitoring your intake.

Read one book every month

We can become so focused on our bodily health that we forget to also set short-term mental health goals. Keep a holistic balance and make self-care part of your weekly schedule. One of the best ways to keep your mind engaged and thriving is to feed it with pleasurable literature.

Whether you enjoy non-fiction, fantasy, autobiographies, historical novels, comics or self-help books, reading is a great way to take care of your brain. Reading has plenty of perks outside of pure enjoyment, too. You’ll decrease stress, improve your vocabulary, learn about new topics and have interesting topics and insight for social interactions.

Set boundaries

One of the quickest and most empowering short-term mental health goals is to learn how to set boundaries in your life. Whether you need to limit time you spend with a less-than-helpful family member or slowly cut out unhealthy habits by giving yourself boundaries, these small steps can have a ripple effect on your wellbeing.

Setting boundaries is easier said than done and will need to be adapted to your circumstances and preferences. However, making it a goal to set boundaries within the next day, week or month can bring quick relief to a burdened mind.

Increase your unproductive time

In a busy world, many people forget how to unwind. When we finally have downtime we become fidgety or flock to our phones, unsure how to simply sit with ourselves and our thoughts. Although this short-term mental health goal is challenging, learning to “waste” time can bring new meaning to your life and grant you real rest.

If you’re unsure how to start spending unproductive time, choose a mindless task to do while you remain in silence. Go for a walk, doodle on a page or do a puzzle. It’s likely you’ll feel uncomfortable at first, but that’s proof it’s working. Soon you’ll find you’re more at peace with your thoughts and you don’t feel as rushed the rest of the day.

Setting short-term physical and mental health goals on your own is challenging. What’s even harder is following through when you don’t have any accountability. 

Let Pyramid Online Counseling offer the encouragement and guidance you’re looking for to make your goals a reality. Work with a trained and licensed professional from the comfort of your home to invest in your mind and body and become a magnanimous person. Get connected today.