When the calendar is flipped and January is first hit, many people set goals or resolutions that they want to achieve in the new year. Making new year’s resolutions is a common tradition for many people. Stepping into the New year with a “new” perspective and mindset motivates many people to be a better person–at least for the first few days.
It is a common misconception that goals need to be extravagant in order to be achieved or “important,” but this is far from the truth. The types of goals people set can vary, and everybody has different needs or things they want to achieve. All goals are a step towards becoming a more productive and successful person; no matter how big or small. For example, sixth grader at Edison Intermediate school (EIS) Elliot Tobler said, “I don’t have many resolutions but one is not cracking my knuckles anymore.”
Another eighth grader, Scarlett Ruf, had a different goal. She said, “My main goal is to stay consistent with the gym and be better in school. I’m working hard at school and going to the gym as much as I can. Every time I go to the gym, I take a photo to keep track, and for school I am staying on top of all my homework and getting good grades.”
Although many people create goals, they can sometimes be forgotten. Eighth grade student at EIS Gabriella Bulger stated, “My main goal is to get all my work done efficiently and not procrastinate. I didn’t write any of my goals down, so I have no way of tracking them. But I think it’s important to get into a good habit.”
With all of the other priorities and commitments people have in their lives, it is easy to lose sight of goals they set at the beginning of the year. Studies have shown that in order to build a habit, it takes 21 days of consistent practice. This is why it is so crucial to write down goals and resolutions, so people can have a constant reminder of what they want to achieve. Every morning, if somebody woke up to their goals written on their wall or a piece of paper, they would have an instant reminder of what they are working towards.
Goals are important because they create discipline in people’s lives. Goals are a great way to start healthy habits and make a real change in your life. But people tend to set goals for themselves that are not realistic and almost impossible to achieve. When somebody sets a goal for themself, at first they may feel motivated and committed. However, as the days go by, people start to feel worn out and no longer have the same motivation to achieve the goals that they have set. This is because they have more than likely set a goal that is not achievable for themself at this time in your life.
People can achieve their goals by setting more reasonable and realistic goals. The key to being able to conquer your goal is to set up a plan. People mistakenly create a goal yet have no idea how they plan on achieving it. A plan is so important because it creates a step by step process that allows people to envision how they will achieve their goal. By jumping into a goal having no idea what steps are necessary to reach it, that person is only setting themself up for failure. Seventh grader at EIS Ella Wint explained, “My main goal is to get better at sports and spend more time working on improving my athletic capabilities. Everyday, I will get out on the wall and practice lacrosse for ten minutes. Also, everyday I write down a list of what I want to achieve for each day in a book and cross it off once I do it.”
Another very important step to setting attainable goals is by setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals. Setting SMART goals is an innovative strategy that helps create goals that are not too unrealistic. Studies have shown that 90 percent of people who set SMART goals end up achieving their goals, while only eight percent of people who don’t set SMART goals end up accomplishing them by year’s end.
