How to Keep New Year’s Resolutions as A Student

This article will set a framework for achieving your New Year’s goals as a student, and explain how to set goals in the first place. We will cover why setting goals is important as well as when to give up.

First of all, Happy New Year. I wish you a prosperous year ahead. You may not be happy with what you have achieved in the past year, but there is probably something you have done. Whatever you could have done better, you can improve on it this year.

I know. There are certain shots that, when missed, may never be found again. For instance, a girl you could have asked out but didn’t and know you may not meet her again. Or perhaps an opportunity which, by your fault, you have missed. The list could go on. They are not redeemable.

But you can choose to whine about them or move on. I’d rather move on. Oprah Winfrey once said: “You are responsible for your life. You can’t keep blaming somebody else for your dysfunction. Life is really about moving on.” So, move on dude.

What are New Year’s Resolutions?

New Year’s Resolutions are self-imposed goals that one sets for oneself at the beginning of the year. As the year begins, it presents a good opportunity for a fresh start. A new year brings excitement and renewed energy. One finds themselves as willing to be a new person again. It also presents a good time structure to spread out one’s perceived goals as necessary.

People come up with New Year’s resolutions for a variety of reasons, and these reasons often stem from one’s reflection on the past year, their willingness for further personal growth and development, or their financial commitment.

The hardest part of the New Year’s resolution is not setting them. It is keeping them. But how you set them can influence whether or not you are going to keep them.

According to various studies, the percentage of people who keep their New Year’s resolutions to the end of the year ranges from 8% to 12%.  Some of the reasons why people fail to keep their resolutions are unrealistic goals, lack of tracking, forgetting, or making too many resolutions. The most popular resolutions are related to health, fitness, and finances.

That is why we will cover quite a bit of how to set them in the right way.

Example of New Year’s Resolutions

How Do You Set New Year’s Resolutions That You Will Follow?

Make them SMART

• S = specific: clearly define what exactly you want to achieve or improve on.

For instance, saying that you will be a better student is not specific enough. Define specifically what it is that you want to achieve. For example, a well-defined goal could be you want to achieve a 3.5 GPA. That is pretty specific.

But how do you achieve the specified goal?

You need to be specific about that, too. To increase your GPA, you could, for instance, say that you would be studying for 1 or 2 hours consistently every day without any distractions. That is a well-defined scheme to achieve a well-defined goal.

Study for 2 hours every day, even when you don’t feel like it, and see your GPA rise.

• M= Measurable: quantifiable.

If you want to achieve something, there has got to be a way in which you can track your progress for you to know you are heading somewhere, or to make improvements if there are things you are doing wrong. Or simply to get motivated that you are heading towards achieving your goal. That is something that you have to do before choosing any New Year’s Resolution.

But how do you make your goal measurable?

Again, it is by being specific about the quantity you want. If you want to lose weight, for example, simply saying that you want to lose weight is quite ambiguous. You can be specific and say “I want to lose 15 pounds this year” or something along that line. That way you can be able to measure your progress by how much weight you have lost at a given time.

This pretty much applies to your GPA. You can start by understanding what your GPA is at the moment and how many points you need to add to make it 3.5 or more. Then you start aiming at specific points in a test or an exam for a semester or two or three until you get close or achieve your goal entirely.

• A = achievable: make the goal realizable/not remote.

The reason many people do not stick to their New Year’s resolution to the end of the year is because they set goals they currently do not have the discipline, the finance, or the knowledge to achieve.

For example, if your GPA is low, you can’t raise it to 3.5 in just one semester. You might need more semesters to achieve it. So, saying you will increase your GPA to 3.5 when it is really low is impossible to achieve in one semester. Give it two to three semesters so that the goal is something that can be realized.

• R = realistic: not too ambitious.

This one is kind of like the first. Make your goal something that works in the real world. Don’t set too many of them or too difficult ones, especially when you don’t have a great history of sticking to the goals you have set. Set goals you can achieve and then build the discipline to set more as you go.

• T= time-bound: within a specified time/period

According to Parkinson’s Law, work expands according to the time given for its completion.  One way to make your goals achievable is to make use of deadlines.

Every goal you set must have a time limit. The time must be realistic, too. It should not be too short or too long. It should be just enough for a specific goal you have set.

For example, if you want to increase your GPA, calculate how many course units it will take to achieve over 3.5 GPA and then set a realistic time for it. If it can take practically two semesters, then do so. If it takes more than that, do as necessary.

How to make sure you’re achieving your goals

• Write them down and review them regularly

Keeping a written record of your goals provides clarity and serves as a constant reminder. Regular reviews help you stay focused and adjust your approach as needed.

• Break them down into small, manageable steps

Breaking big goals into smaller tasks makes them less overwhelming. It allows you to tackle one step at a time. This can give you a sense of accomplishment and momentum.

• Track your progress and celebrate your achievements

Monitoring your advancements helps maintain motivation. Celebrating even small victories reinforces positive behavior and encourages you to keep pushing toward your ultimate goals.

• Find a buddy or a support group to keep you accountable

Sharing your goals with others creates a support system. Having someone to check in with or a group to share experiences with enhances accountability and provides valuable encouragement. In other words, you need an accountability partner.

• Be flexible and adaptable if things don’t go as planned

Life is unpredictable, and plans may need adjustment. Being flexible allows you to navigate unexpected challenges without losing sight of your goals, fostering resilience and creativity in problem-solving.

• Don’t give up if you slip up or face setbacks

Setbacks are a natural part of any journey. Rather than seeing them as failures, view them as opportunities to learn and grow. Perseverance in the face of challenges is key to long-term success.

Conclusion

New Year’s resolutions are a great way to start your year with ambition and willingness for growth and development. However, setting New Year’s resolutions is one thing, and keeping them is another. You have to make your goals realistic, measurable, and less ambitious in order for you to stick to them throughout the year. Write them down regularly as well to make sure you are making any progress. Find an accountability partner and share your progress with them. Reward yourself if you have achieved anything as you move on to your ultimate goals.