Following Through on our New Year’s Resolutions
2020 has dawned upon us and this marks the end of what has been a glorious decade. We thank 2019 for all the new experiences we’ve had, the new friends we’ve met, and, of course, the added wisdom.
At the start of every year, people often draft their “New Year’s Resolutions” – a list of their goals for the next 365 days – to turn over a new leaf, so to speak. We write our wishes and dreams of how we want our new year to be. The most common resolutions are:
Many people are determined to improve many aspects of themselves including their language skills or cultural literacy. But how do you make sure that you stick to your resolutions and achieve your goals by year’s end? Below are the top tips we’re glad to share with you:
1. HAVE S.M.A.R.T. GOALS
The “SMART” Goals acronym was first used in a 1981 management article by George Doran and, until now, many enterprises and organizations still use these criteria to help them strategically guide their endeavors.
This mnemonic stands for:
Specific – Which areas are you targeting for improvement?
Measurable – What is your indicator for success?
Attainable – Is the goal realistic given your available resources?
Relevant – How is it related to your long-term vision?
Time-bound – When does the project end?
Objectives that follow these five characteristics tend to be more achievable and successful.
2. VISUALIZE!
Make a vision board or display your goals on spots that are most visible to you like on your fridge, your dresser mirror, or in your office cubicle. The more frequently you see them, the more your brain unconsciously steers you towards your goals.
3. GRADUALLY AND CONSISTENTLY BUILD UP THE HABIT
If your goal is to learn a new language or be better with the one you’ve already started, try building up your study habits slowly but consistently. Do you want to brush up your listening skills? Listen to a 10-minute podcast while you’re on your daily commute to work or school. It won’t take much of your time and definitely won’t feel like a chore especially if it’s about a topic you’re interested in.
Do you want to get better at reading? Turn on foreign language subtitles when you watch your Netflix series and movies. Try to incorporate these small changes gradually and in no time you’ll notice that you’re actually getting better at your chosen language.
4. REACH OUT TO OTHERS
Maybe your goal for 2020 is to travel more and explore other cultures. Ask your family and friends if they share the same goals. You may then travel together and if spending more time with them is also part of your new year’s resolutions, then it’s perfect.
5. STICK TO YOUR “WHY” POWER
For the longest time, it has been called will power – a person’s quality of persistence and determination. But what really drives one’s motivation? It’s your reason, your answer to the question WHY. Why do you want to learn a new language? Is it for a promotion at your job? Is it to pass an exam needed to enter a university? Is it to be able to communicate with others more effectively? The stronger your why power is, the stronger your will is to strive for success.
So, how about you? What are your new year’s resolutions and why? Do you have specific objectives regarding learning more about languages or other cultures? We hope that you have an amazing 2020 and that you achieve all the goals you set for the year.
By: Kriezel Daria
