As we welcome the new year, we have a clean slate and the chance to begin a new chapter filled with growth, learning, and new goals and accomplishments. Regardless of whether you are in elementary school, high school, or studying in college or university, setting and keeping achievable resolutions can be very beneficial.
For students, New Year’s resolutions can focus on education-related aspirations and personal achievements. Combined, they can help your child grow and succeed in all areas of life. Here are some resolutions that can help students have a productive, enjoyable, and rewarding year:
- Practice Healthy Habits
Practising healthy habits can help decrease stress, improve focus and performance, and improve overall quality of life. Resolving to find time to include exercise into your weekly routine, getting a good amount of sleep, eating nutritious foods, and drinking a lot of water are all things that can boost your mood and cause a rise in productivity. - Don’t Procrastinate
Procrastination is a bad habit which can undermine a student’s ability to manage time effectively. This can lead to last-minute cramming and an increase in stress and anxiety levels. It can also set a precedent for poor work habits later in life. Making a resolution to be more diligent about staying on top of assignments and starting them early can lead to current success and foster a foundation of resilience and success in the future. - Study More Effectively
Having strong and efficient study habits can help your child to build confidence in the classroom. Making a resolution to strengthen their study skills will make them more prepared for class and enhance their comprehension and retention of information. These improvements can be made by creating and keeping a consistent study schedule, having a comfortable and well-equipped study area, and avoiding distractions during study time. - Read a Book a Month
Reading more is always a good idea, no matter your age. For children, making a resolution to read one book per month can have many benefits, including stimulating their minds, expanding their vocabulary, encouraging creativity, and fostering a deeper understanding of different cultures, ideas, and perspectives. Making reading a habit also instills discipline and time-management skills. Encouraging your child to make this one of their resolutions will help to create a lifelong love of reading and prepare them for a future of intellectual exploration. - Reduce Screen Time
We are living in a screen-filled world. Almost everywhere you turn, screens offer endless – and often mindless – entertainment, information, and distraction. Making a resolution to reduce screen time will benefit your child in many ways. Not only will it encourage them to increase their physical activity, but it will also prevent issues such as disrupted sleep patterns and eye strain. Putting down the screen and encouraging face-to-face interactions can also help to strengthen relationships with friends and family. Developing a healthy relationship with technology teaches children to use devices responsibly and can help them develop a healthy and balanced approach to online and offline life. - Learn a New Skill
Learning a new skill or picking up a new hobby can add a lot of fun and excitement to a child’s life. Whether trying out a new sport, learning a musical instrument, learning to cook, or getting into creative arts, resolving to try something new can go a long way in their personal and intellectual development. Aside from the fun of learning, acquiring new skills encourages goal setting, perseverance, social development, and can boost their self-esteem. Encourage your child to learn a new skill this year, and you may open a new world of enjoyment for them.
Some other great resolutions for kids are: to help others more, to give at least one compliment every day, to complete all your chores each week, to use less plastic, to try to save a certain amount of money each month, to keep a journal, or to start a family game night!
Setting a resolution will give you motivation and accountability and can lead you to push yourself to new and exciting places. We wish you all good luck this year and beyond!