As the end of another year approaches, it’s time to start thinking about what your goals are for the new year. Although there is no deadline for creating objectives, the urge to “start fresh” as December ends is very apparent. You may feel pressure to aim big because you want to do better than the previous year. Although it’s okay to create goals for yourself, the important thing to remember is that everyone moves at their own pace.
I often feel anxiety beginning to creep into my life as soon as January rolls around. I observe the people around me, and I compare my life to theirs. This has resulted in creating unattainable or far-fetched goals due to what I think I should be doing and not what I want to be doing. When creating New Year’s resolutions for yourself, think about your short-term and long-term goals and what you can realistically do to achieve them. Write them down, break them up, and simplify. When I wanted to apply to SFU’s co-op program and get a fall placement, I wrote it down and informed myself of everything I had to do to reach success. This included being aware of deadlines, staying organized, keeping good grades, and doing everything that was required by the program before applying. By doing so, I was able to refer to my goal, check my progress, and keep working hard.
Speaking your ambitions out loud allows them to feel real and achievable, it will push you to do better. I keep myself accountable by discussing my goals with friends and family. You also want to turn your goals into habits by practicing them every day. Even if it feels small or insignificant, talking about what you want, doing things to move forward, or staying positive towards your objectives will help create a healthy routine. I write my goals down in a notebook as a physical reminder of what I’m working toward, or I browse social media for inspiration. When I wanted to apply to my first co-op, I read stories of students who had already been through the entire process so I could get a better idea of what I was doing. By practicing every single day, you are preparing yourself and getting ready to reach success. You can never be too ready, and as they say, “practice makes perfect”.
In the beginning, you may feel extremely far away from your goal. As the new year approaches, you may even feel pressure to create grand resolutions. It’s okay to start small, it’s okay to do the little things that help you build up to your bigger ambitions in life instead of trying to achieve everything at once. Being a student is not about rushing through life, everything you learn while attending SFU is very valuable. Take time to break goals down, discuss it with people who care about you, work hard, and don’t give up!
