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Smart New Year resolutions for college students

Last updated on: December 31, 2009 15:55 IST

It's that time of the year again! Along with happiness and hope, the New Year brings with it the tradition of making resolutions.

While it is one of the oldest festivals of the world, the tradition of the New Year's resolutions is also quite historic. It goes all the way back to 153 BC when Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.

With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

But what are these resolutions? Resolutions are nothing but some goals that you set for yourself. If you stick to those resolutions, it makes you a better individual.

However, I have personally seen that more often than not, these resolutions just remain a ritual and rarely provide change in individuals. And it is worthwhile mentioning that it's the same with people who want to succeed in life but are not goal oriented.

So, I am going to suggest a SMART way for setting your New Year resolutions this year.

SMART is a method that we widely use in behavioural trainings to help individuals set their goals. It's also a tool that lot of organisations in India and abroad use to set goals for their employees.

Let me quickly explain this SMART method.

SMART is an acronym that stands for:

Click NEXT to read how this SMART method can help you keep a tab on your and implement your New Year resolutions.

The author is the CEO of PurpleLeap (http://www.purpleleap.com/) an employability skill enhancement initiative of Educomp Solutions Pvt Ltd.

Specific

Last updated on: December 31, 2009 15:55 IST

Specific goals see much higher success rates than general ones.

Lets look at the following resolutions:

a. I will be more regular in my studies this year

b. I will get in shape

c. I will prepare myself for a career this year

If you look at these goals, they are very generic. To set a specific goal you can ask yourself, these six '3W-1H' questions:

Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.

What: What will be the output?

When: What is the timeframe?

How: How do I propose to accomplish the goal?

So, keeping these 3W framework, let's rework the three resolutions.

a. I will be more regular in my studies this year

Why: I want to get higher marks and improve my academic performance.

What: I will get over 75 per cent marks in my semester exams

When: I will start with this semester itself.

How: I will study two hours every day

So, the specific resolution becomes:

Starting this semester, I will study two hours every day so that I get over 75 per cent marks in the semester.

b. I will get in shape

Starting January 1, I will start running for 60 minutes everyday.

c. I will work hard this year

Starting January 1, I will invest two hours of work everyday in activities that makes me ready for a career.

The author is the CEO of PurpleLeap (http://www.purpleleap.com/) an employability skill enhancement initiative of Educomp Solutions Pvt Ltd.

Measurable

Last updated on: December 31, 2009 15:55 IST

Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement when you reach your goal.

To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as: How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?

Let's look at these three revised resolutions.

a. Starting this Semester, I will  study two hours every day so that I get over 75 per cent marks in the semester

Is there a measure? YES. Two hours per day and 75 per cent.

b. Starting January 1, I will start running for 60 minutes everyday.

Is there a measure: Partly: 60 minutes. However, there is no measure of the output. So let's modify this:

Starting January 1, I will start running for 60 minutes everyday so that I lose five kilograms by March 31.

c. Starting January 1, I will invest two hours of work everyday in activities that make to ready for a career.

Is there a measure: Partly: Two hours. However, there is no measure of the output. So let's modify this:

Starting January 1, I will invest two hours of work everyday in activities that make me ready for a career.Every month, I want to score 10 per cent higher in the placement tests.

The author is the CEO of PurpleLeap (http://www.purpleleap.com/) an employability skill enhancement initiative of Educomp Solutions Pvt Ltd.

Achievable

Last updated on: December 31, 2009 15:55 IST

Goals must be achievable.

Does your mind believe that you can achieve this goal.

When your mind believes in the goal, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. You begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

Are the three resolutions discussed above achievable. In my mind, yes. However, if your mind does not believe that, modify the statement that your mind starts believing in.

Realistic

The goal must be realistic. Your goal is realistic if you know how to do it.

Again, lets look at the three resolutions. Are they realistic? Yes, because I know how to do it.

Some unrealistic goals could be:

I will lose 10 kgs in one week (unless there is a surgical procedure)

I will become job-ready in one week.

The author is the CEO of PurpleLeap (http://www.purpleleap.com/) an employability skill enhancement initiative of Educomp Solutions Pvt Ltd.

Timely

Last updated on: December 31, 2009 15:55 IST

A goal should be bound within a time frame.

For instance, saying that I will lose five kgs is an open-ended resolution. Will I achieve it in one month, one year or before I retire in my grave? So, it is important that the resolutions are timebound.

Are the three resolutions discussed above timebound? Yes.

Whether you make a small resolution that makes marginal improvement in your life or a big one that proves to be turning point of your life, ensure that you run that resolution through the check-list discussed here. It will ensure that you succeed with your resolutions and get the exhilaration of living up to your own expectations!

I will like to conclude this article by quoting Ella Fitzgerald: It isn't where you come from, it's where you're going that counts.

Make your New Year resolutions count by getting on the way to success. I wish all of you a very successful New Year ahead!

The author is the CEO of PurpleLeap (http://www.purpleleap.com/) an employability skill enhancement initiative of Educomp Solutions Pvt Ltd.