Tips for Finding and Achieving Life Gols for People with Mental Disabilities

Have you ever woken up feeling like your life has no purpose ? Wanting to do something but don't know what to do? To help you live purposefully , here are some tips for finding and achieving life goals from AGNES SANDRA, S.PSI., M.PSI., a clinical psychologist specializing in adults. She shared her insights during a workshop section, organized by PJS (Perhimpunan Jiwa Sehat), an organization focused on empowering mental health for people with disabilities in Jakarta . Let's check out the information below!

Understanding Goals

A goal is a target that someone wants to achieve in their life. Goals can include career success, financial stability, healthy relationships, good quality of life, and so on. Having goals allows individuals to plan their life targets and be more motivated to accomplish things.

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Types of Goals

There are two types of goals: short-term and long-term. Short-term goals are activities you want to achieve within a day or a week. Examples include attending webinars, taking courses, or participating in training sessions. Long-term goals, on the other hand, take longer than a month to achieve, or even span a lifetime. Examples include completing a thesis or a work contract.

Tips for Finding and Achieving Goals

Finding life goals can be challenging for some people, they may search for their purpose through out their lives. However, discovering your life's purpose can be easier if you know what makes you happy. If a goal doesn't make you happy , it is the best to avoid it, as it can lead to negative outcomes. Take a moment to reflect on what truly brings you joy.

Once you find your goal, here are the steps to achieve it:

1. Set Specific Goals

While there may be many targets in life, you must recognize that time is limited. Choose the targets that are most important to you.

2. Create a Schedule

Once you know your goal, create a schedule with deadlines and evaluations. Break the goal down into smaller tasks within a timeframe that suits your abilities. Breaking goals into smaller tasks makes them more manageable and achievable. With clear, small steps, you can focus better and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, breaking your goal into smaller tasks allows you to experience a sense of achievement and motivation at each step .

"If we accomplish those small tasks, we will feel more motivated but if we can't accomplish those large tasks, it will  make us more disappointed," said AGNES SANDRA, S.PSI., M.PSI.

3. Evaluate

If you feel tired after working on a task for an hour, consider reducing it to half an hour to avoid feeling overwhelmed. If half an hour still feels like too much, you can cut it down to 15 minutes. This adjustment can vary based on your capacity. If you can work on a task for over an hour, feel free to increase that time. That's the purpose of evaluation.

4. Celebrate Small Achievements

Appreciating each achievement is important as it helps maintain enthusiasm, boosts self-confidence, and increases happiness. Celebrating small accomplishments is an investment for a better future. Moreover, appreciating small achievements helps you value the efforts of others as well. Examples include waking up early, finishing a chapter of a book, or trying a new recipe.

Challenges in Pursuing Goals

Once you've created a schedule with a list of tasks, you will face the challenge of commitment.

"Don't look the plan as pressure, but look it as something exciting. Don't judge yourself failed if you can't complete the entire schedule; instead, treat it as an opportunity for evaluation and motivation," said AGNES SANDRA, S.PSI., M.PSI,.

Benefits of Having a Schedule

1. Making Life More Structured

One advantage of creating a daily schedule is that it can make your life more organized. A schedule provides you with guidance on what to do, from the least to the most important tasks, from morning until night, helping you avoid confusion during free time or burnout from having too much work.

2. Reducing Stress

Stress occurs when tasks exceed your ability and arise when you don't have enough time to complete them. A daily schedule can help you tackle this issue by providing a clear overview of what needs to be prioritized.

3. Reducing Procrastination

Procrastination is a common problem, whether it's related to school assignments, household chores, or office work. Delaying tasks can lead to higher stress levels due to accumulating responsibilities. By creating a daily schedule, you can minimize procrastination and it directs you to perform tasks according to your planned targets.

4. Increasing Productivity

Having a daily schedule allows you to have free time. This free time can be used for productive activities, such as pursuing hobbies, improve skills, or looking for side jobs.

So, these are the tips for finding and achieving life goals for people with mental disabilities. We hope that this workshop empowers them and improves their quality life.