Resolutions

It's that time of year again when we all need to make resolutions. We need to tell ourselves (and others) all the things we'd like to do in the coming year knowing full well we won't keep it up.

This year I'd like to address why we never keep our resolutions. Is it because they're made in a hungover haze on the first of January? Are we all idealists at the beginning of the year?

I think it's all down to planning. I'm lucky enough to have a bit of essential knowledge and am here to help you! So, where do we start? We get SMART! I will explain...

Let's take the example of "My new year's resolution is to learn a language".

Specific - your resolutions should be very specific. Not just learn a language - which language? How will you learn it? To what level?
Measureable - You need to know whether you have succeeded and the only way to do this is by measuring your results. Perhaps you will take a test, or hold a conversation with a native speaker.
Achieveable - There's no sense setting yourself a target that's completely out of reach. If you set your sights a little lower you'll achieve far more. Think conversational French rather than fluent Japanese.
Relevant - Do you really need to learn ancient Egyptian when you've got a holiday booked to France? Choose things which fit into and compliment your daily life.
Time-bound - Give yourself a limit to achieve your goals by a certain month and try to stagger them throughout the year. Perhaps enrol on a course by February, be able to hold a conversation by September.

Our initial resolution has evolved into "My new year's resolution is to be able to hold a conversation in French when I go to the Loire Valley in September."

So, now that you have the framework try making your own new year's resolutions, and STICK TO THEM!