by Lindsay Mullins ’24
Throughout 2021, our world has seen some major changes. Many of us were hoping to return to normal life after the COVID quarantine this past year. Many of us here at Archbishop Murphy returned to school full-time last February. By the start of the 2021-2022 school year, we were back to in-person learning. Now 2021 has come to an end, and we enter a brand-new year: 2022. During this time, many people talk about New Year’s Resolutions, and how they are going to try and adhere to their new undertakings this year. But what are New Year’s Resolutions and how can you set yourself up for success when creating a new resolution?
What are New Year’s resolutions? This type of resolution is a promise to do something better or different in the coming year. However, according to Forbes.com, more than 80% of New Year’s resolutions are not met, and according to nytimes.com, one-third of the resolutions don’t even survive past January. A lot of these goals fail because they’re not the right resolutions. A resolution may be wrong for a couple of different reasons. It may be a resolution created based on what someone else (or society) is telling you to change. It may be too vague. Or maybe, you don’t have a realistic plan for achieving your resolution.
To make a better resolution, you can use the acronym SMART, which stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
- You want your resolution to be specific and clear. Specific goals are much easier to achieve than vague or unclear goals.
- Your resolution should be measurable. Logging your progress on a goal is important, as it gives you something visible that you can see and keep track of. You can make notes on your phone, write in a diary, or use apps like Reflectly or Being Me: Journal to keep track of your progress.
- Making your resolution achievable doesn’t mean that your resolution can’t be big or impactful. If you make small, slow steps towards your goal, you are more likely to feel confident in achieving your goal.
- Your resolution must also be relevant. Does the goal matter to you? Examine the reason behind your resolution. If it is not important to you, the goal is more likely to fail.
- Finally, your resolution should be time-bound. Your goal needs to be achievable, as does the timeline to reach your goal. Make realistic expectations for yourself. You can set up self-check-ins, and set small progress goals along the way to encourage yourself. All of these points will help you make the right resolution.
This new year, the AMHS community is brimming with resolutions. Alondra Valle, a sophomore, says, “My New Year’s resolution is to improve my basketball skills.” Natalie Geppert, also a sophomore, says that she “will probably try to read more and drink more water.” What are your resolutions this year?
Into the Jungle 