As a society, we love any excuse for a clean slate, and the start of a new year is probably the best example of that.
We leave the past 12 months in the dust and look forward to 12 more months of possibility, motivation, good memories and those oh so important resolutions.
But for students, especially international students who are often juggling not only study and work, but also cultural adjustments and homesickness, picking new year’s resolutions can feel like a really overwhelming task. No wonder so many resolutions get completely tossed aside before January is even done.
Now, this isn’t to say that you even need to have resolutions or goals just because January 1st is rolling around, because you absolutely don’t. But if you are the type of person who likes to have some concrete benchmarks to aim for throughout the year, then we hope these tips might help you pick some that are a little more realistic and leave you feeling a lot less flat come February.
1. Pick goals that you actually want to achieve, not ones you think you should
A lot of students set goals based on external pressure: get top grades, join more clubs, go to the gym between classes, be more social, save money, get an internship…the list goes on. These can definitely be great goals, but only if you truly care about them.
Ask yourself:
- What do I want more of in my life this year?
- What do I want less of?
- What would make my day-to-day life easier, happier and more meaningful?
- What leaves me feeling fulfilled rather than drained?
Asking yourself these questions filters out the noise from social media, peers and just society in general and helps you to work out what’s actually important to YOU.
For international students, your real priorities might be things like building confidence speaking English, making new friends, cooking more meals from home, or managing study stress better. Whatever your goals are, they’re far easier to stick to when they resonate with your actual life.
2. Pick fewer goals, but make them clearer
A common mistake is setting too many resolutions at once. When everything feels like a priority, nothing truly is. And we totally get it because in the fast-paced world we live in now there is so much pressure to constantly be changing and improving everything about ourselves all of the time. But for most people, that’s just not going to be sustainable (or needed!). So instead of writing out a list longer than your exam revision notes, aim for three to five goals for the year and make them as specific as possible.
Instead of: “Get healthier”
Try: “Cook a homemade dinner twice a week.” or “Go for a 20-minute walk after class on weekdays.”
Instead of: “Meet new people”
Try: “Have one social catch-up or event each week,” or “Join one club or society this semester.”
Clear goals give you direction and satisfaction. Vague ones only make you think you’re not succeeding (even when the opposite is true!).
3. Break big goals into tiny steps
Large goals like improving your grades, saving money or working on your English skills can feel overwhelming. Breaking them into small, manageable steps is a great way to see your progress. It also helps to fuel that dopamine rush you were probably banking on from the above-mentioned massive list of goals.
For example, “Improve my English” becomes:
- Watch one English TV show per week with subtitles.
- Learn five new words per day.
- Attend a conversation group twice a month.
Small steps feel doable, even on difficult days and by the end of the year, you will be so many steps closer to that big goal.
4. Make goals that fit your reality, not your ideal life
Circling back to step one, it’s important to remember that even if it’s a goal that you really want to achieve, it’s still really important to take into account the parts of your life that aren’t flexible. If you’re studying full-time, working part-time, and living far from home, then maybe picking up that new hobby you’ve always wanted to try, but that takes up three nights a wee,k isn’t going to be the one for you this year. Ambition is great, but burnout isn’t.
Ask yourself:
- Does this goal fit my current schedule?
- Will this reduce my stress or add more?
- Is this something I can keep doing even on busy or low-energy days/weeks?
For example, if you’re exhausted after work, committing to a term of evening ballet classes probably won’t last. But a kitchen dance party every night while you make dinner? That’s a keeper.
It doesn’t mean you have to give up those other goals forever, but maybe just tuck them away for another year when they might fit a little more comfortably.
5. Track progress in ways that feel good, not stressful
Tracking doesn’t need to be rigid in order for you to succeed in your goals – a passive-aggressive app reminding you to drink your water or up your step count just might not be your vibe, and that’s okay.
It’s nice to have a visual reminder of what you’re aiming for, but pick something that brings you joy to have it around, even on the days when you maybe don’t quite get there.
- A colourful journal or fun sticky notes
- A bingo card you can tick off throughout the year
- A calendar with cute stickers
- A voice memo update to a friend with all your wins, losses and everything in between
6. Allow goals to change as you change
Probably the most important thing to remember is that just because we have a plan for the year, it doesn’t mean that’s exactly how it’s going to go. Your life can transform quickly with new classes, new jobs, new friendships and new challenges. Your goals should evolve with you.
It’s okay to:
- Change a goal
- Pause a goal
- Replace a goal
- Celebrate progress and move on
You’re not failing, you’re adapting. That’s growth, and maybe that’s the biggest goal of all.
