Setting Goals for Mental Health Recovery

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder can change your life. Goal setting is the process of planning for the future and thinking about what you want out of your recovery journey and your life. Setting personal goals—big and small—can help you focus on what’s important to you.

Learning how to set goals and achieve them can help you live the life you want while managing your mental health recovery. When you set your own goals, YOU are in control and you decide what success looks and feels like to you.

It can be helpful to think about:

• What’s important to you
• What you want to accomplish
• What you want out of your life

Some Tips for Setting Goals Include:

Set Clear, Specific Goals
Having simple and realistic goals can help you focus and be more likely to reach them.

Take Small Steps
Break down big goals into smaller ones so they are more manageable and easier to reach.

Get Support
It’s not always easy to reach a goal—so some people appreciate help. Think about which people from your treatment team or support network might be able to help you.

Share Your Goals With Others
If you share goals publicly, you may feel more committed to reaching them.

Stay Positive
Having hope and believing in yourself can inspire you to accomplish your goals.

Track Your Successes and Challenges
Remember to share your progress with your treatment team and give yourself credit for the work you are doing.