June 2, 2014
Being able to effectively set and achieve goals can be enormously satisfying and can really help to build up self esteem and self confidence. If you are new to goal setting then start small with daily targets that you aim to achieve that day. Before you get started here are some points you may want to consider:1. Be SpecificBe precise about what it is you want to achieve. If one of your goals is to lose weight then state exactly how much weight you would like to lose or what your target weight is. If you use woolly language it will be much harder to tell if you have achieved your goal so be as clear with your language as you can. 2. MeasurableLike with the previous point, it is much easier to tell if your have reached your goal if you can measure your progress. Use an objective measure to measure your progress and success.
3. AchievableAre your goals actually achievable? You could for instance want to grow six inches in height but if you have already reached adulthood and are not planning any major surgery, you are unlikely to achieve this goal. It may be helpful to also look at your target dates for achieving these goals. If you are trying to do too much in too little time think about setting some interim goals and moving your target date for achieving your overall goal.
4. RealisticWorking out if a goal is realistic can be tough as you need to be honest with yourself about your circumstances and skills at this time. It may be that you need to scale down your goal or set yourself some interim goals. Also, do your homework. Research how others have reached these goals, how long did it take them and what additional resources did they need.5. TimeSet yourself a time scale for achieving your goals and review your progress at regular intervals along the way. Having a time scale in place will help to keep you focused and motivated. 6. Get HelpSometimes a bit of outside advice or guidance can really help you to stay motivated and on track. Ask people who will understand your goals, be positive and offer honest and constructive feedback when you need it. Avoid people who you feel will be judgemental or overly critical.7. Expect 'Off Days'It's perfectly normal to have the occasional bad day where your motivation dips and you question yourself and your ability to achieve your goal. If possible, plan for these days and be kind to yourself. Goals by their very nature are challenging and require work. If you are really struggling, remind yourself of your original reasons and motivations and imagine how you will feel when you have achieved them.
8. Plan Work out what steps you need to complete in order to reach your target and set yourself interim goals along the way. Think about whether these steps will require input from others, training, or new equipment or tools. Do they need to be done in a specific order or by a certain date? As you complete steps from your action plan tick them off and move on to the next stage. Seeing your progress will help to keep you motivated and feeling good about your reasons for choosing this goal. Don't forget to check out our new 'Goal' worksheet
here.
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Self Confidence
May 26, 2014
1. Use Trays to Organise Incoming Post
You can pick up office stationery very reasonably from discount shops so buy yourself one tray for each member of the household. Label them and put them somewhere visible and convenient. Make sure every item of incoming post gets allocated to one tray. If it's not addressed to a member your household then the chances are it's either been delivered in error or it's junk mail. If you suspect it's been delivered in error, write 'not at this address' and ...
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Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Managing Paperwork
May 20, 2014
1. Plan
Before tackling each area get yourself 4 boxes. Label one 'Keep', one 'Donate', one 'Sell' and one 'Throw'. Every item you sort out must be allocated to one box and don't second guess yourself once you have made a decision.
2. Break tasks down in to small chunks
Rather than deciding to tackle your whole house or even a whole room look for small areas that you can work on for a given period. For example, start with a drawer or or shelf and work through each item in that area allocat...
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Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Homecare
May 10, 2014
It is Mental Health Awareness Week from 12th - 18th May 2014 so I
thought it may be helpful to share some ways in which you or a loved one
can stay well.
1. Social Activity
Doing something that gets
you into contact with people every week can be vital for staying mentally
well. We are all different and require different levels of social
contact but doing something with others can be an important way of
reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. The activity...
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Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Asking for Help
May 1, 2014
When you have an extended period of free time it can become very easy for your days to loose structure or meaning. Sometimes this free time is a choice and other times it is imposed on us, either through personal circumstances such as ill health or disability, or through an external situation like redundancy. Filling the time with activities that feel meaningful to you can help your days maintain structure, reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness and help to build confidence and learn n... Continue reading...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Building Structure
April 11, 2014
Change is an integral part of life and for many can be a source of stress and upheaval. The following tips are some ideas and strategies that may help you to manage change in your life.
1. Research and Ask Questions
One of the toughest challenges with any change is the feeling of powerlessness. No matter what the change is, the more information you can arm yourself with the better. Sometimes it's hard to know what it is we don't know and need to know, so talking to a friend or family memb... Continue reading...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Managing Stress
July 21, 2013
1. Sit down and take the time to go through your bank statements and bills to work out how much money you have coming in each month and what your regular outgoing costs are. It will take a bit of time to do and can be a little depressing, but is well worth doing as it will show you how much money you have to play with each week.
2. If money trickles through your fingers without very much to show for it you may want to consider keeping a spending diary for a month. The idea is that you write ...
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Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Managing Money
June 8, 2013
Being able to express your needs and feelings in a way that is assertive is a valuable skill and can help to build self confidence. An assertive person is able to express there views and needs clearly to others without becoming passive or aggressive. By that I mean that you don't let others impose their point of view on you and you don't impose yours on them. You just say what it is that you feel and want and let others do the same.
Like many skills, assertiveness takes time to master and n... Continue reading...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Self Confidence
April 16, 2013
Personal care is an important part of looking after yourself. It serves several roles including:
- Health & Hygiene - it helps use stay physically healthy and recover from health problems quicker.
- Self Confidence - feeling clean and well presented can help us to feel better about ourselves
- Expressing Your Personality, Likes & Interests
- Improves Personal Relationships
- A Means of Showing Yourself Love & Kindness
There's a saying that goes something like, you can't love somebody else unti... Continue reading...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Personal Grooming
March 5, 2013
Learning to relax is a vital part of staying healthy, both physically as well as mentally. There is no right way to relax but you should ideally be aiming for an activity which calms you. When you are calm your breathing is slowed and it comes with ease, your muscles feel loosened and free of tension and your thoughts start to slow down and you feel able to think clearly.
There are a number of activities you can do to coax your body and mind into this state. These include the following:
- ... Continue reading...
Posted by K Clark. Posted In : Managing Stress
I am experienced mental health worker with 15 years experience working with young people and adults with enduring mental health needs. I have set up this blog to share some of the tips and skills I have learnt along the way. If you have any suggestions or particular questions you would like me to answer feel free to email me at 
