How to Make New Year's Resolutions a Reality: The 4 Step Plan for Students

Keep Up With Your New Year's Resolutions!

Setting New Year's resolutions is a great way to jumpstart the year and foster a sense of purpose and motivation. However, they can be a tricky business, especially for younger people and it can sometimes be difficult to stick with them. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to help ensure your resolutions don't end up going unmet. So don't let your New Year's resolutions fall by the wayside and follow these 4 easy steps from Quizplus to help you stay on track and make sure your goals are achieved in 2023

Make realistic short-term and long-term goals

Goals can help you stay focused, motivated and on track. However, it's important to set realistic goals that are appropriate for the amount of time and effort you can devote. It’s more effective to break down the goals into more manageable tasks and set achievable deadlines. This way, you won't get overwhelmed by one big goal — instead, you'll be able to focus on smaller ones that lead up to it. 

Start by setting short-term goals that lead into long-term ones. Short-term goals should be achievable within a few months to a year, and should be things like reading one book a month or studying for an hour every day. Long-term goals are things like graduating from school in 3 years or getting accepted into your dream university program. Having a clear roadmap to success will help you stay on track with your resolutions throughout the new year!

Break down your resolutions into achievable steps

Dividing your resolutions into smaller, specific, measurable steps will make them easier to achieve and accomplish. Start by identifying the steps it will take to reach them. For instance, if you have a goal to “eat healthier” or “exercise more frequently,” break this down into smaller goals such as reducing sweets or embarking on a weekly 30 minute walk. By breaking down your resolution into achievable tasks with specific targets, you're empowering yourself to accomplish something and stay focused.

You can make a list of all that you want to accomplish in the new year, then break these down into categories or themes like career development, physical health or personal relationships. For each one, create several SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) that target certain areas of your life - instead of generalizing. Give yourself time frames for when to complete particular tasks and keep track of your progress by setting reminders and deadlines throughout the year – things like “Sign up for an online coding boot camp by April” or “Take a yoga class twice a week until June." This will help ensure your New Year's resolutions become a reality.

Create a reward system for completing tasks

Celebrate your successes! A great way to stay motivated and keep yourself accountable is to devise a reward system. Knowing that there is a reward waiting for you at the end of your journey can help give you an extra boost to stay on track and work hard to reach your goals.This doesn’t have to be an expensive or lavish reward, but it should still be something that energizes and motivates you — even if it’s just a break from studying or completing tasks early.

You can also give yourself points or a sticker chart when you complete tasks, or plan rewards like a movie night or going out to dinner at the end of each month if you’ve made significant progress. It also helps to have someone hold you accountable, such as joining a study group or having friends to check in with throughout the year.

Find an accountability partner to encourage you along the way

It can be difficult to stay motivated when it comes to achieving your New Year’s resolutions. That is why having an accountability partner or support system can make a huge difference! Having a person to chat with about your progress, praise you for taking steps in the right direction, and provide helpful advice when needed makes it easier to stay motivated and accountable.

Your accountability partner could be anyone who is willing to keep you motivated. This can come in many different forms — it might be your best friend, family member, classmate or even an online community of like-minded individuals working towards their own goals. Feeling supported and having someone to bounce ideas off or share experiences with are key components to long-term success in your New Year's.

Now that you are aware of the pitfalls of New Year's resolutions, you can avoid them. So, get moving, and let's all hope that 2023 is very different from 2022 with Quizplus’s step plan!