Get More Out of Your New Year's Resolutions

It's the first week of January, and new year's resolutions come in all shapes and sizes. Typically, they are focused on doing MORE: Are you planning to do more volunteer work this year? Maybe your goal is to spend more time meditating. Whether you are aiming for more self-confidence, more money, more space in your closet, or more A's in your gradebook, these 5 quick steps for forming SMART goals with help you get the MOST out of your new year's resolutions.

1.Specific. The biggest mistake people make when setting personal goals is leaving them in the zone of wishful thinking. Try upgrading your basic goal like "do better in school" to a more motivating "increase my average test score."
2. Measurable. Lots of meaningful goals get lost along the way because it's simply hard to tell if progress is being made. Now that your goals are specific, add a standard which will help you track your progress through the year. For example, a simple goal of "eating healthier" can be broken down into measurable objectives like "cook dinner for myself three times a week," "pack more fruits and vegetables for my school lunch" and "eat out only twice a month."
3. Achievable. Or, another good phrase to remember here is "action-oriented." You want to make your goal realistic and possible to obtain, but also one that inspires action and helps you become better over time. This step is a great opportunity to reflect on the progress you made in the previous year and how you can push yourself to continue to grow.
4. Relevant. It can be very tempting to set separate goals for every aspect of your life in hopes of accelerating improvement. Instead of bogging yourself down with too many goals, try streamlining your list to just a few objectives which work well together and contribute to a fuller life. For example, how do your fitness goals fit within your long-term goals for your health; or your academic goals contribute to your future career?
5. Timely. One of the most obvious reasons that people don't keep up with their new year's resolutions is almost ironic: a year is a long time. Keeping up with a goal for 12 months straight can be exhausting unless you have a more segmented plan. To keep your goals going strong through 2018, find ways to check in with your goals frequently. The more often, the better. You might try bundling your goal plans with other monthly habits like reviewing your budget or checking your grades.
Bonus Tip: Share your goals with a friend to help you stay accountable and share your successes with! You can visit casc.byu.edu to schedule a session with a learning mentor on time management to get more help with goal setting and encouragement for your resolutions.