ReadOasis Step 3

At the start of every year, millions of people make new resolutions. This means that they promise themselves to do something differently, or to attempt something new. For example, many people want to lose weight, quit smoking, or change another bad habit. Others want to learn a new skill or get better at an old one, like acquiring English. It is painless to make a new resolution, but it is usually challenging to keep it. Here are three questions that might help you persevere with your New Year’s resolution.

1. Why do you want to make this new resolution? Make a list of ways that your life will improve if you keep it. And make a list of ways that your life will worsen if you don’t. You can append ideas to your lists anytime. It is important to remember your reasons often. So put these lists in a spot where you can see and contemplate them every day.

2. Do you have a good strategy for keeping your new resolution? Try to split your big goal into a lot of small goals. And then try to carve your small goals into even smaller “baby steps.” Next, decide when you will take these tiny steps toward your goals. You will probably need to take some steps every day. The smaller and easier the steps, the more likely you will take them.

3. Can you find a friend to inspire and motivate you? Your friend can encourage you when you fail and celebrate with you when you succeed. If you are like most people, you will sometimes fail and get discouraged. You might even start doubting that you can meet your big goal. But your friend can say, “You can do it!” And that may be all you require to keep up your persistence. And when you meet your goals, whether small or big, it feels good to hear someone say, “You did it! I knew you could!”

Do you have any habits that you would like to change? Or would you like to try something original and imaginative that takes a lot of hard work? If so, then maybe you should make a New Year’s resolution. But don’t worry if you can’t start on New Year’s Day. Every day is a new day. And any new day is a good day to make your life better.

Click here to see the Step 1 version of this story.

See the story Why Learn English?