How to keep New Year's resolutions
Now that you know why New Year’s resolutions are so important and how to create powerful ones, next let’s ensure you stick to them.
Have you heard of the acronym SMART? It stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. This acronym is used in business management techniques, and by setting SMART objectives, you will have a higher chance of making good progress towards your New Year's resolutions.
Specific: Instead of vaguely saying, "I want to speak English," you may want to say: "In three months, I want to be able to order food in the English language." It will be more effective for you to know when you want to achieve what.
Measurable: Remember to track your progress and celebrate every tiny achievement in your learning journey. Some examples are logging your progress into a journal, writing notes on a piece of paper and sticking it on a fridge, or making notes on your portable device - whatever you prefer.
Achievable: Start small instead of trying to make a significant, overwhelming change. If ordering food in English seems like a lot for you to accomplish, then break it into smaller goals. For example, start by focusing on different food-related vocabulary and test yourself by taking quizzes (and by eating those foods - learning should be fun after all, and this is a great reward!).
Relevant: Does this goal matter to you? You may want to study at a UK university or change your career path - find a goal that excites you. You will be more likely to follow through with your resolution if you believe the change will enrich your life and make it as fulfilling and meaningful as possible.
Time-bound: Give yourself enough time to accomplish your goal, celebrate small wins, and keep track of your gradual progress. Remember, if you are building a new habit, then you are planning a new lifestyle, so to use an analogy:
Don't be a sprinter; train for a marathon instead.
As you break your tasks into several manageable pieces and stick to your new routine, you will be able to notice improvements quickly and you will be one step closer to achieving your bigger goals.
Our final tips to help you stick to your resolutions
Although you probably have lots of important goals and plans for the future, when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, we suggest you pick just one or two for each year. Focus your energy on one objective at a time rather than spreading yourself too thin amongst many various goals.
In case you have a long list of potential resolutions, pick the best ones for the year ahead and save the others for next year. Or who knows? Maybe now that you’ve seen our tips, you’ll accomplish your first resolutions quickly and you can start on the rest of the list later in the year!
Although keeping New Year's resolutions can sometimes be challenging, with the right mindset, clear planning and support, you can complete your objectives. If you skip a day or two, don't be hard on yourself. Instead, focus on getting back on track.
Need a helping hand? Give us a shout! Share your New Year's resolution with us at [email protected] or connect with us on our Instagram, tag us in your post, or send us a private message - we can't wait to hear what you are hoping to achieve in 2023!
Good luck with everything you do. We’re rooting for you!
