How To Set Goals When the World is a Mess

It’s natural, at this time of year, to think about what we want to do, achieve and be. Whether in our workouts, our work lives - or just regarding our relationship with ourselves. But with so much uncertainty, national lockdowns and a news cycle that’s enough to make anyone want to retreat back under the duvet, making plans, plotting goals and actually achieving them is tougher than ever. When we polled our audience on Instagram, over half of people said the sheer mental load of 2021 had sapped their motivation to set and strive for their health goals. If you’ve got no time or energy for self-improvement right now, that’s totally understandable. But, if you do, committing to small changes in your own little world could be of real benefit during this wild moment we're living through. But how do you choose goals that you love too much bail on? What can you do to ensure you’re striving for improvement in as kind a way as possible? And how do you keep yourself focused and on-mission, in the midst of…*all this*? These are among the questions we grapple with in today’s conversation, with help from Dr Anita Aitsi-Selmi, a medical doctor and public health expert-turned-transformational coach to leaders in medicine, law and business, and author of The Success Trap. Along with Dr Heather McKee, a psychologist and behaviour change specialist who helps companies and individuals make healthy changes, and make them last, with her Bite Sized Habits course. Topics: Don't set goals until you've done a mental declutter  How to do an energy audit to work out what you need The case for setting intrinsic goals Don’t love goals? Try rituals instead Why self-kindness leads to more success Like what you’re hearing? We'd love if you could rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, as it really helps other people find the show. Also, remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you’ll never miss an episode.  Got a goal in mind? Shoot us a message on Instagram putting ‘Going for Goal’ at the start of your message and our experts could be helping you achieve your health goal in an upcoming episode. Alternatively, you can email us: womenshealth@womenshealthmag.co.uk Please read! Life is hard for many right now. We love sharing ways that you can make yourself feel and function better, but if you're struggling with your mental health please seek support from a GP, therapist or other professional. Charities such as Mind (mind.org.uk) and Rethink (rethink.org) can provide more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices