If you are a woman who is ambitious, talented, and driven but you are suffering from anxiety, then you know how hard it can get just to set one goal and achieve it. Setting goals while dealing with anxiety can be challenging, but it is still possible with a well-thought strategy.

Let’s talk about some of the strategies that can help you get through your goal setting dilemma.

Strategy 1: Start small.

This is an old but proven and tested strategy that’s often overlooked and underestimated because of the human desire to achieve big things right away. For women with anxiety, starting with one small goal can help reduce the feeling of overwhelm. You can accomplish these smaller goals and gradually increase your goal size.

If you have a big goal, you can break it into smaller steps. Small goals does not mean small results. You are still aiming for big results, but you are simply dividing your goals into manageable action steps to make them less intimidating and easier to approach. Focus on one step at a time, celebrating each accomplishment along the way.

Strategy 2: Prioritize self-care.

The “health is wealth” phrase is not wrong. You can accomplish more if you are healthy and if you stay healthy. That means healthy all-round – mind, body, and spirit. By prioritizing or incorporating your self-care activities into your goals, you ensure that the ugly head of anxiety does not pop out unexpectedly, especially when you’re in the middle of an important project.

What self-care routines can you include?

• Physical exercises (workout)

• Meditation

• Deep breathing exercises

• Listening to music

• Hobbies that help you relax and reduce stress

• Beauty sleep

• …and others – your self-care routine may differ from someone else’s.

Strategy 3: Set realistic expectations.

Be mindful of how you set your goals. High-achievers like us tend to overthink. A simple task can become complicated if we allow our minds to wander into the “what might” instead of focusing on the “what is”.

What’s a realistic goal? An example would be if you can finish two or three tasks in an hour, but then you overestimate your ability and try to finish four to six tasks instead.

Setting overly ambitious or perfectionistic goals may contribute to anxiety. So, learn to adjust your expectations based on your present circumstances and what feels manageable for you.

Strategy 4: Find support.

When it gets overwhelming, don’t be afraid to find support from friends, family, or a mental health professional. Goal setting will be a lot easier with another pair of eyes to see what you cannot and another pair of ears to listen to you and give you the needed support.

Your support person or group can provide guidance and encouragement, especially at times when you feel you want to give up. She/He may also help you maintain perspective and focus on the goal. Sharing your goals with this trusted person can also provide accountability and motivation.

Strategy 5: Identify your anxiety triggers.

You cannot fight an enemy you cannot see; you cannot manage your anxiety if you have no idea how it is triggered. So, it is important to identify and understand your anxiety triggers so you can manage them.

Try these strategies and see which one works best. You can also add some of your own strategies.

Always remember, as you work on your goal setting and achieving those goals you’ve set, to be kind to yourself throughout the process. Understand that setbacks and challenges are normal. Things will not always go perfectly as planned, but you must aim for progress rather than perfection. Be flexible in adjusting your goals, if needed.