New Year New Potential

It’s nearly the final week of December and the upcoming holiday festivities can be very exciting. One of my favorite holiday traditions is making New Year’s Resolutions. Sitting around with family and friends, discussing the ways this upcoming year can be so much better than the one in our rear views. Many people plan to learn a new hobby, start working out, or kick an old habit. The conversation can spark new ideas and give you inspiration to work on self-improvement.

New Year’s resolutions can be super positive and help the new year seem less like just another twelve-month march into the future. This is, of course, if you can make your New Year’s resolution last past February. If you put your mind to it, you can succeed and turn your resolution into accomplishment. It is important to keep your resolution realistic to your circumstances and attainable within your limitations. For example, many of those with a job will want to make more money, but you shouldn’t sacrifice academics or extracurricular activities for said resolution. 

When coming up with a resolution, there are several concerns regarding how to choose what is best for you. My 5-step plan to choose a resolution and stick to it is as follows:

Step 1. Brainstorm changes you would like to see for yourself in the coming year.

Step 2. Commit to one goal that is relevant to improving your life. This is important because you don’t want to overwhelm yourself with too many expectations. You are more likely to succeed with your resolution if you choose one thing to focus on.

Step 3. Create a plan to implement the new goal into your day-to-day routine and create a deadline if your resolution has a specific goal.

Step 4. Begin the process and adjust as necessary; life will not bend for your resolution, so at times you may need to change the plan. Try not to veer too far off track; commit to the cause and stay as consistent as you can.

Step 5. Build upon your goal and add new goals for yourself once you become proficient with the initial one. Resolutions are not static; if you make progress and you want a challenge, then don’t be afraid to create new goals for yourself.

Creating a New Year’s resolution is the easy part, sticking to it is harder. It is necessary that as you navigate the “new year, new you” you don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I’m not suggesting that you don’t push yourself, but if you are a student reading this, you already have many responsibilities. Always remember to be forgiving with yourself and understand that not everything will line up perfectly all the time.

When we come back from break, there are four weeks until the second quarter ends! Maybe your resolution is to “strive for 85” and get good grades in all of your classes. If this is the case, consider a short-term goal to get all your assignments in before the quarter ends. A medium-length goal would be to pass all of your exams. And a long-term goal would be to get into some good colleges. This resolution would allow you to create a plan that adheres to your schedule and creates a habit of turning in assignments on time and of good quality. 

In short, my advice this month is to create a resolution, walk into 2024 with a plan, and treat yourself kindly because the road ahead may not always be easy.