New Year, New Me

We've said this statement at least once in our lifetimes, "It's a new year and I'm going to do *Insert desires*". Then as the year goes by you realize that you only completed two out of the list of new year's resolutions that you have made. Sometimes I even wonder if it's even realistic to create a new years resolution list because I personally never complete all of it. After January, the excitement of the new year dies, reality continues, and you forget the list you have made. This year will be different, however. I refuse to dismiss all of the goals that I'd like to achieve before the year ends. I think that setting goals and trying to achieve them is a valuable process in the development of who you are and the progress of your life. As a student, I don't have everything figured out, but I do have an idea of who and where I want to be in the future. This year I plan to make my New Year's resolutions into reality, but in order to do that some things much change in the planning process. When thinking about your New Year's resolution start with the overall big picture of what you see yourself doing in the year. This is important as it makes you think of what you want and it puts your life in direction for the year. The big picture can include anything like your dreams, desires, inspirations, etc. For me, I want to travel to Montreal with friends, experience more of Toronto festivals and events, working over the summer, develop more research skills, and be more expressive creatively. These are just a few of things that I see myself doing for the year and want to make happen.

Then the next big step is to write a list of specific goals and make an action plan for each goal. There are many categories of our lives that shape who we are such as family, friends, academics, health, spiritual, financial, etc. When making your list of goals, try making goals that fall under each category, that way you touch basis on all aspects of your life that's important to you. Then try making an action plan on how you'd like to achieve the goal. As apart of my new year's resolution, one of my goal is to watch at least one Raptor's game because I have never watched one before. This specific goal falls under "personal" category and I plan to achieve it by looking at the dates of upcoming games and purchase a ticket that is under my price range (seat location does not matter to me). It's best to make your goals also realistic and easily achievable. Last thing is to stay on course and remember the overall big picture. I know this is easy said than done, but it is possible. The best way to remember, in my opinion, is to literally have your list in front of you daily, so that you can constantly see your plan for the year. This worked a lot for me last year. I have a dry erase board where I have listed the overall year goals and a list of my goals organized in categories in my planner. Everyday when I saw the list I am reminded of what I am striving for. Or if you have any ideas on how to remind yourself then follow what works best for. This year is this year we achieve our goals whether if it's health, school, or family related. In 2017 we left excuses behind and in 2018 we embrace success and with these changes in planning your new years, it will happen.