Happy New Year! This is the time when a lot of people make a New Year’s resolution, or a promise to themselves to work extra hard to accomplish something to better their lives. Some examples include:

  • Eating healthier

  • Exercising more

  • Becoming more organized

  • Getting better grades

And the list goes on and on…

What will be your New Year’s resolution? Click here to take a quick survey to see what most people plan to do for their resolutions, and then check and see where your answers fall!

How to Stick to Your Resolution this Year

Many people who make goals use the S.M.A.R.T. system to help them achieve success.

S stands for SPECIFIC. Is this a clear goal that you can see concretely? For example, making time to go outside each day is a clear goal, just as well as earning a 3.0 grade point average each quarter.

M stands for MEASURABLE. Can you actually measure your progress and results? If you are gearing up to run a 5K race, keep track of how far you are able to run each day. If you decide you are going to swap sodas for water, track how many many times you’ve swapped water for soda each day/week/month.

A is for ACHIEVABLE. You may not be ready to climb Mt. Everest today, but if you start with a reasonable, more achievable goal, it will be easier to attain. If your goal is to write a 300 page novel, perhaps writing 25 pages per month is more sensible, and then work your way up.

R means RELEVANT. Is this a goal that is important to you for the right reasons? If you are doing it reluctantly because you really don’t want to, then maybe this resolution isn’t for you right now. If you decide to run for class president because you want to stand out and be popular, but you aren’t really interested in performing the duties of class president, then maybe you should try something else.

T represents TIME. Can you achieve this goal in a reasonable amount of time? If your resolution is to run a marathon, you might want to cut the goal into smaller chunks over a greater period of time, such as a 5K race, then a 10K, and work your way up gradually until you are fully prepared for a marathon race.

If you choose to start a New Year’s resolution for 2022, keep working at it, don’t be afraid to fail once in a while, and we wish you the very best of luck!

Here are some other articles that may come in handy as you decide on your New Year’s resolution.

Would you like to read more about sticking to your goals?

A Year of Positive Thinking For Teens : Daily Motivation to Beat Stress, Inspire Happiness, and Achieve Your Goals by Katie Hurley

Being a teen can be an emotional roller coaster. When you’re overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations from your friends, family, social media feed, teachers, and even yourself, it’s normal to have thoughts and feelings like This is too hard or I’ll never measure up. With A Year of Positive Thinking for Teens, you’ll discover how to overcome these anxious thought patterns, and build a happier, more positive mindset to achieve your goals. Let go of stress with relatable prompts and reflections–all grounded in positive thinking and positive psychology strategies. Find a daily dose of motivation through insightful quotes and affirmations designed to encourage you to embrace happiness one day, one thought, and one year at a time.

6 Super Skills for Executive Functioning: Tools to Help Teens Improve Focus, Stay Organized & Reach Their Goals by  Lara Honos-Webb

All teens need help staying focused–in school and in life. In this book, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) expert Lara Honos-Webb offers six powerful “super skills” to help teen readers pay attention, increase productivity, and get organized so they can achieve their goals. With this guide, teens will also learn to regulate their emotions and boost motivation, so they can be their very best.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens: The Ultimate Teenage Success Guide by Sean Covey

Being a teenager is both wonderful and challenging. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, author Sean Covey applies the timeless principles of the 7 Habits to teens and the tough issues and life-changing decisions they face. In an entertaining style, Covey provides a step-by-step guide to help teens improve self-image, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, get along with their parents, and much more. In addition, this book is stuffed with cartoons, clever ideas, great quotes, and incredible stories about real teens from all over the world. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens will engage teenagers unlike any other book. An indispensable book for teens, as well as parents, grandparents, and any adult who influences young people, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is destined to become the last word on surviving and thriving as a teen and beyond.