5 tips to keep your New Years resolutions in 2022

The new year has begun. Have you made any New Year’s resolutions for 2022? Many people make them; losing weight, exercising more, and learning new things are common good resolutions. So how do you make sure you keep them?

• Change your resolutions to goals.

By now many people are familiar with "SMART". For those who aren't, SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. These are clear goals that you can measure, that are achievable and relevant within a set time frame. So change your intentions to SMART goals. Say you want to be more assertive at work, how do you turn this into a SMART goal? Make your goal clear by asking questions. In which situations do you want to be more assertive and to whom? Then make it measurable by keeping track of how often you have been assertive and how often you’ve had the opportunity. And when do you want to have achieved this goal? You end up with a goal such as: "I want to be more assertive in meetings with colleagues by the end of the year." That's a good resolution turned into a clear goal!

• Guarantee your success with achievable goals and roadmap

Ambitious goals are good, but keep it manageable. If you never really been assertive at work, you can't expect to suddenly be able to say "no" in every situation. The same goes for learning a new skill next to working fulltime. Start slowly if you are not used to this. That way every step feels like a victory. You do not want to disappoint yourself by pursuing unachievable goals. That will only demotivate you. Make a clear step-by-step plan.

• Tell someone else about your plans

Try telling a family member or friend about your goals. After all, if they ask about it, you definitely want to be able to share good news, right? For many people, a form of social pressure works very well. In addition, it's also nice to share how you got closer to your goal again.

• Invest in your future

Once you've made your goals, it's time to invest. Invest time by setting aside a few hours each week in your calendar. You’ll not only remind yourself of your goals, but you also turn into a habit. Invest money by taking a good look at all the options you have or get advice before making a purchase. If you want to learn how to be more assertive, consider a course, for example. There you will get valuable insights into how to communicate assertively and why it is not only good for yourself, but also your colleagues and managers. Such valuable information lasts a lifetime so it’s definitely worth the investment.

• Don't start immediately

You do not have to start your resolutions on January 1. By starting unprepared, the chances of not succeeding only increase. Therefore, take the time to calmly prepare your goals and make a plan of action. Sometimes it's better to wait until a good deal or action appears in your mailbox, such as a good opening promotion from a new gym or another Happy Day from Global Knowledge. Sometimes you can get started right away and sometimes it's good to wait. The important thing is that you are well prepared.

With these five steps, you can make sure your resolutions are kept. Change your resolutions to concrete goals and make a step-by-step plan on how you will pursue your goal. Make sure others know about your goals and make relevant investments towards your goals. And whether or not you want to start right away in the new year, make sure you are well prepared before you do.