The first week of school is now behind us, and perhaps it’s worthwhile to make some new year's resolutions for the new school year. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a student, an administrator or a staff member, there’s always something we can improve on.
But personal goals or habits don't always need to be about excelling in academics. It can also be about decreasing stress, managing school-life balance, trying new things or maintaining friendships.
The start of a new chapter in life, especially a new school year, is a great opportunity to reflect on what went well in the past and what might need to change.
According to Psychology Today, an important thing to keep in mind with habit building is not to do too many at once. It’s easy for us to dream of the stars but forget to take baby steps on the way there. Try to create SMART goals — meaning keep the goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
Also consider the habit flow. Trying to read a new book in between classes might not be the best way to incorporate more reading into your day. But reading a chapter before you go to bed might be a way to naturally incorporate that habit, especially if you leave a book by your nightstand as a reminder.
Lastly, be gentle with yourself. If you miss a habit-building day, it doesn't mean you have lost all that progress. When you miss a day, consider what affected your ability to make the habit and what you could do differently to reprioritize it.
After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. And new year, new me doesn’t happen overnight. Let’s take this school year one step at a time and kick it off on the right foot.
