Author: Cosmina Bradea

The New Year is a great time to make a resolution. If you've been struggling with studying or getting good grades, it's time to change that. Here are some ideas for study resolutions that will help you do better in school:

Come up with a goal.

New Year's is a time to set goals and resolutions. But what makes a good goal?

• It should be specific, measurable and achievable. If your goal is “to get fit” or “to have more fun” then you need to make it more concrete by saying something like “I want to run a 5k race next summer in under 45 minutes.”
• A goal should be challenging, but not impossible. You can't go from being completely sedentary to doing triathlons without putting some effort into it! Likewise, if your current fitness level allows you to run an eight-minute mile without much training at all, then trying for seven minutes won't really push your limits (and isn't likely to keep you motivated).
• Finally, a New Year's resolution should be realistic and attainable: don't set yourself up for failure with unrealistic expectations!

Create an action plan.

The most effective study action plans are those that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART). In other words:

• Specific: “Read chapter 1 of my course” (not “Do my homework”).
• Measurable: You can tell if this goal has been achieved by measuring it against the number of pages you read or how many questions you answered correctly in a given period of time (e.g., 30 minutes).
• Achievable: If your assignment is due next week but you have never finished reading chapter 2 yet, then this goal is probably not achievable for now. 
• Realistic: Set goals that make sense given what else is going on in your life right now (or what's likely to come up soon). For example, if there are big tests coming up soon and lots of studying needs to be done before then, don't set a goal for yourself that includes attending every football party on campus—even though other people might tell you otherwise! Instead focus on getting through those tests first so that afterwards feels like less stressful territory.
• Time-bound: Set a deadline for your goals (a realistic one).

Stay focused on your goal.

Resolutions are a great way to start the year off on the right foot. However, as you gear up for your new semester and all of its challenges, it can be easy to lose focus on an important goal. The key is setting resolutions that allow you to stay positive and focused on your goals. That means choosing a resolution that's realistic but still challenging enough that it requires determination. Having a friend or mentor in your corner will also help keep you motivated through difficult times. Don't be afraid to ask for help from teachers or fellow classmates at any point during the semester!

Give yourself some credit.

You're going to make mistakes and that's okay. Give yourself some time to adjust before you start beating yourself up. You'll feel better if you give yourself credit for the good things you do, too! You've probably heard about the importance of rewarding yourself for your successes. Here's a tip: Rewards are great, but don't forget to reward yourself even when things aren't going your way (because they will). If something isn't working out, try something else—it can be easy to get discouraged when learning new things or tackling big projects at work, so don't let the small stuff get under your skin. Every little success is an important step toward achieving whatever it is that really matters most in life.

Study resolutions are achievable, even if they seem hard at first.

Setting a study resolution is one of the best ways to get started on your schoolwork. Your goal can be anything you’d like it to be—a better grade in accounting, spending more time with your family, or getting an A+ on that big paper due next week. The important thing is that you make sure that you set goals for yourself and create an action plan so that you are able to reach them.

Once you have decided on a goal, take some time to think about how exactly it will affect your life and when it would be appropriate for your action plan to start taking effect. For example: You may want an A+ in business statistics class already, but if this class doesn't end until next semester then perhaps now is not yet a good time for studying! It's always best not just because something seems hard right now doesn't mean it won't be worth doing later down the road (and vice versa). So remember: Think about what needs improvement within yourself first before making any changes!

Sign up for a Hospitality Academy study program

We hope that by reading this article, you’ve found some inspiration to start your New Year's study resolutions. Whether you’re looking to improve your study habits or just want to be more productive in general, there are plenty of things that anyone can do! The key is finding something that works for you and then sticking with it—no matter what. We know from experience that even when things get tough, if we keep at it long enough eventually we will achieve our goals. At Hospitality Academy we can help fulfil your study resolutions—and even more beyond that! Take your education and career to a new level by registering for one of our courses today via our website or email at admissions@pihospitalityacademy.com.