by Khushi Jain, 2024–2025 Miss CEO Ambassador
As 2025 rolls around the corner, I am excited to set some New Year’s Resolutions. However, we often end up forgetting about them by the end of the month. Goal-setting can be powerful and enable us to reach our full potential, but it is crucial to recognize ways to actually follow through. To ensure our resolutions stick, it helps to have a strategy in place. With a little planning and commitment, we can make this the year we achieve what we set out to do.
Make Your Goals SMART
Instead of setting vague and open-ended goals, use clear and specific statements. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Specific: Firstly, your goal should be clear and detailed so you know exactly what you’re working toward. Think about questions like what, when, where, who, which and why. For example, instead of saying, “I want to be healthier,” specify, “I will run every weekend to improve my cardio.”
Measurable: A measurable goal includes a number or milestone so that it is easier to track progress and measure success. For example, study math for 30 minutes every day or read one chapter every day. This way, you can see how far you’ve come and when you’ve reached your goal.
Achievable: It’s easy to be overly ambitious, but if the goal isn’t realistic given your schedule and resources, it can quickly become overwhelming and demotivating. Instead of aiming for something extreme, break it down into manageable steps. Instead of saying, “I will start a new hobby every week,” which may be too much to handle, say, “I will start practicing photography once a week for 30 minutes.” This makes it manageable and more likely you’ll stick with it.
Relevant: Your goal should align with your long-term values and aspirations. For instance, if you are passionate about improving access to education and hope to gain leadership experience, a relevant goal might be, “I will organize a book drive fundraiser at my local public library to donate books to underfunded schools.”
Time-bound: Having a deadline keeps you accountable and motivated to reach your goal. Without a timeframe, it’s easy to procrastinate. You could restrict your goal to the end of the month, the school semester, or some other duration. This creates a clear timeline for when you expect to accomplish your goal.
Stay Consistent and Plan Ahead for Obstacles
At the end of each week, take some time to reflect on the past weeks and check in on the progress of your goals. Ask yourself: What went well? What needs improvement? What obstacles did I face? This reflection helps us understand what worked and what didn’t, allowing us to adjust our plans for the upcoming week.
Obstacles are inevitable, but with a little preparation, we can handle them more effectively. Think about potential setbacks for each of your goals and plan strategies to overcome them. For example, if final exams are coming up, be flexible and schedule time in advance to adjust your focus toward studying, while still keeping other goals in mind. By planning for challenges and reflecting regularly, you can stay consistent and keep making progress toward your goals.
Build an Accountability System
Having someone to hold you accountable increases your chances of success. Share your goals with a friend, family member, or mentor, and ask them to check in regularly. You can also work on similar goals together and celebrate small victories along the way, which helps build motivation. You could also join a study group or a club as surrounding ourselves with people who support our goals makes it easier to stay on track.
Conclusion
Setting New Year’s resolutions is exciting, but the real challenge comes in staying committed and sticking with them. With the right strategies, such as setting SMART goals, consistently reflecting on progress, planning for obstacles, and building a support system, we can make this year different. We’re capable of achieving great things, and every small step brings us closer to where we want to be. It’s not about perfection but making steady progress toward the things that matter most. Let’s make 2025 the year we follow through on our resolutions and become the Miss CEOs of our life as we aspire to be!
About the author:
Khushi Jain is a junior at Pioneer High School. Outside of school, Khushi enjoys reading science-fiction, playing the flute, and watching Bollywood movies. She is also the Controls Captain of her school’s FRC Robotics team and the president of the Astronomy Pioneers club at her school where she shares her passion for space science with fellow students. Additionally, she is part of a national nonprofit based in India aimed towards advancing education for village students. Khushi was inspired to join Miss CEO and contribute to its mission of empowering young females after attending the wonderful workshops in the past herself. She is very excited to serve as a Miss CEO Ambassador this year!
