Keeping Track of Your New Year’s Resolutions

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Now that January is done and dusted and the excitement of the new year is long in the past, it is time to look back on all the resolutions we made in the heat of the New Year’s hullaballoo. Most of us would have made many frivolous resolutions, but sprinkled among these resolutions, I am sure there are some vital resolutions and goals that have to be achieved. Click here to learn how to choose resolutions that matter.

One of the reasons why people fail to keep their resolutions is that they don’t track their progress and results. Tracking your resolutions can help you stay motivated, focused, and accountable. It can also help you measure your success and celebrate your achievements.

There are many reasons to keep track of your goals, such as:

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  • Providing clarity and refinement of your goals.
  • Monitor the progress of your goals and enable you to adjust your plans to achieve your goals.
  • Keeping track of the goals you have achieved will provide you with the motivation needed to achieve your pending goals.
  • Helping you analyse your successes and failures and learn from them to improve and grow.

But how can you best keep track of your resolutions?

There are many ways to track your resolutions, depending on your preferences, needs, and goals. Here are some of the most common and effective methods:

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  • Write down your goals and resolutions: The step might sound basic and not something you should be reminded about. But how many of us put pen to paper (or enter it into our laptops/phones/tablets) and note these so-called “important” resolutions? You can use notes to write down your resolutions, action plans, daily or weekly tasks, progress, challenges, insights, and reflections. You can also use it to express your thoughts and feelings about your resolutions.
  • Use a planner: The devil is in the details. People who use a calendar know how useful it can be to increase efficiency and keep track of progress. The organiser/calendar is a tool that can be far more useful than reminding you of your next meeting – it helps you keep track of the goals you have to achieve, how far you have gone and how much further you have to go to achieve your goals. Create a calendar that contains every milestone on the road to your goals, and break them down as much as you can – week/month/quarter (however long you can go). You can use it to schedule tasks, set deadlines, mark milestones, and plan rewards. You can also use it to visualise your progress and see how your resolutions fit into your life.
  • Data and Charts: As professionals in the modern workforce, we are all familiar with data analytics, spreadsheets, charts and graphs. Is there a better tool to use than something you already know? A spreadsheet or a chart is a powerful way to track your resolutions. You can use it to create tables, graphs, or diagrams that show your data, such as your inputs, outputs, indicators, or metrics. You can also use it to analyse your data and see the trends, patterns, or correlations related to your resolutions.
  • Use the power of technology: Can you even imagine a life before smartphones and apps? Life has become so much easier and fun because of smartphones, but a smartphone without apps is just a regular phone. Apps make everything we do so much easier and, in some cases, fun. An app or a tool is a convenient and fun way to track your resolutions. You can use it to record your actions, track your outcomes, set reminders, receive notifications, and access your resources. You can also use it to gamify your resolutions and earn points, badges, or rewards for your achievements.

Have I missed any points you feel can help someone stick to their resolutions? I hope the few ideas shared here can help you stay on track and achieve your goals in 2024. How were you planning on tracking your resolutions? Comment below.

If your resolution for this year is to do a master’s degree or learn something new, then explore the number of specialised master’s degree programmes offered by Robert Kennedy College through exclusive partnerships with top British universities. Or, if you have already made up your mind, click here to apply.

Six tips for dealing with academic failures

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Failure is a part of life, and there is no way around it – everybody will fail. As long as you learn from your failures, failures can be good. Unfortunately, not everyone can get over failures.

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In my youth, I would have fallen under the category of not dealing with failures well. In high school, I remember being terrified about exams and assignments. I remember breaking out into a cold sweat before exams, and if I failed, the anxiety and shame of “what would happen next” would almost cripple me. I did not deal with it well. I just stopped caring about exams, results or assignments. As a result, I did not perform well for a while and fulfilled what I had feared would happen.

With age and hindsight comes wisdom (I hope). For me, wisdom came from one of my professors. He was counselling a classmate who was handling failure poorly. He asked this student first not to panic and think – what is the worst thing that could happen to me of this failure? This question profoundly affected me, and to this day, every time something goes wrong, I ask myself – what is the worst thing that could happen? At least until now, the answer has been “nothing I can’t handle”.

How you deal with failure is important, and the following are six simple tips that have worked for me.

1. Calm down and think. Now, you might think that is easier said than done – I JUST FAILED IN MY EXAM?ASSIGNMENT! This is where my old professor’s advice works for me. So, ask yourself – what is the worst that could happen, and can I deal with it? More often than not, the answer will be YES. Things are now always as bad as you imagined.

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2. Analyse the failure. Why did you fail? What did you do wrong? What did you do right? What can you do to change? What can you keep on and improve on?

3. Understand the process. Figure out what happens next. This is usually easily accessible information available to students and can be found in the student handbook or the college website. Ask your professors or student support team if you need help or more information. Find out the deadlines if you need to resit, reapply or resubmit.

4. Speak with your professor. Don’t be scared of your professors. They are teachers and are there to help. If it is an assignment, ask them where you lost marks and how you could improve to meet expectations. If you lost grades because you did not understand something or misunderstood the subject, ask for guidance and clarification.

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5. Prioritised study. I have written many times about the importance of scheduling. And after a failure, you have the opportunity to finetune your schedule to focus on your weaknesses. Schedule more time to improve the areas you are weak, or you could go the other way and focus on strengthening your strengths. Prioritise and schedule when, how and what you are focused on learning.

6. Support. People find strength in many places and people. It is not only important for your support system to rejoice with you in your success. My support system (your parents, spouse, children, friends, teachers, peers, etc.) provides me strength when I fail in the form of advice, help, or just being a shoulder to cry on. When they help me overcome my failure, they share in my success, which makes them happy and improves relationships. I know this is how I feel when the roles are reversed.

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I hope these simple tips help you overcome any academic failure you might face.

If you are looking to join a 100% online master’s degree programme, then consider joining our globally recognised master’s degree programmes. Look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might offer.

Four benefits of Taking a Break

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After reading this blog’s title, most of us would have thought, “yeah, this is a no-brainer”. But the fact is, not many of us even realise when we are overworked, close to burnout and in desperate need of a break.

In 2011, I was overworked and struggling professionally, my personal life was dragging its feet, and I did not even realise this. Luckily for me, my friends were planning a month-long trip around South-East Asia and forced me to go with them. No matter how much I said NO!

And so I went. It was the best thing I ever did in my life (until then).

When I came back, I was almost a completely different man. I felt like I wanted to go swimming with sharks and skydiving, and within the year, I was a married man (what does that tell you?). I wanted to do something that pushed me professionally and personally, and all this happened because I went on a break I did not know I needed.

The following are four reasons why I feel it is essential to take a break from work (or school).

Mental health

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No matter how much we love what we are doing, our jobs will add stress to our lives. Those lucky enough to do something you love might not even realise that some form of work stress is still always added to your lives. Then there is personal stress of managing the family, the kids, school work, etc. We have covered managing stress in a number of our previous blogs.

Taking a break from the daily grind of life can help you get away from the routine of life, giving you the time needed to reflect on your life and the choices you have made. But even if you don’t reflect on your life choices, don’t underestimate the power of relaxing your mind and letting it go blank.

Physical health

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Between work, family and being stuck in traffic (or since the coronavirus, being stuck at home), there is no time. Or at least that is the excuse most of us use for not exercising. Having a healthy body goes hand-in-hand with having a healthy mind. Taking a break might just help you kick start your physical system, reminding your body that it needs to be exercised.

One of the countries we went to on our break in 2011 was Cambodia, and my God, just walking around the temples in Siem Reap felt like a year’s worth of exercise. So you don’t have to go on nature walks or hiking on your break to get in your physical activity. You could get it from club hopping, swimming, or playing a game with your kids on the beach.

Take advantage of this added physical exertion and try to keep it going once you return to your routine.

Sleep

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Sleep is one of the first things we compromise on when we fall behind on our routine. We always think that we can make up for the loss of sleep at a later time, but chances are bad sleep habits will be cultivated and will become regular sleep habits. Getting optimal rest at night is vital to having an efficient day. I know I am much more motivated to get to work when I have slept well and am a lot more pleasant to be around.

A break is an excellent opportunity to fix your bad sleep habits and to correct and better regulate your sleep cycle.

Productivity

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There are several studies that have shown the correlation between taking a break and an increase in productivity, from being able to sleep better and being in a better mood after vacations to a rise in productivity and less exhaustion. And this proof is necessary because you should never just take someone’s word as fact. But speaking from personal experience, I know that taking breaks improved my productivity. And the break I took in 2011 was a life-changing one for me!

So go on your break. Recharge your cells. And when to get back to your routine, challenge yourself!

If you have taken your break and are ready to challenge yourself and have been thinking about doing a master’s degree, then take a look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might offer.

3 simple ways to keep motivated through the day

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It might just be me, but I don’t think that I have personally ever seen anyone (and I am talking about working adults only here) go through a whole workday with a positive, motivated attitude.

Well, that might not be entirely accurate. I remember my first job out of college was fun. Most of the workforce was also fresh out of college, many of whom were from my college and my friends. It was all fun, and we used to get paid for it. But time and responsibility have weight and can slow you down.

There is no avoiding responsibility; it is an integral part of life and growth. And responsibility is not a bad thing; a lot of us get motivated because of the responsibility we have.

However, several things could happen during your day that could bring down your enthusiasm and energy during the day, such as getting late for a meeting because you were stuck in traffic, getting yelled at by your manager, having a disagreement with your spouse, having to discipline your child, having the water stop halfway through a shower. The list can be endless!

So, what can you do to remain as motivated as you can during the day? Here are three simple tips you could use that might help you stay motivated right through the day.

Sleep

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How often have you stayed up through the night and started your day crankily and performing far less than your usual efficiency? Getting optimal rest at night is vital to having an efficient day. I know I am a lot more motivated to get to work when I have slept well and am definitely a lot more pleasant to be around.

We have covered the importance of a good night’s rest in several of our blogs and have a few that we have gone into more detail on, such as 7 ways to better understand your Sleep Cycle and Are you an early riser or a night owl? Which sleep pattern is best when studying for the online master’s degree?

Reactivate your senses

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As human beings, we can react positively or negatively to what we see, hear and smell—sight, sound, and scent.

How often have you gotten distracted by something playing on the television only to realise that you delayed what you were supposed to do?

How often has your efficiency improved when working to the beat of a song? I remember driving home from my grandparent’s place (about 600 kilometres) and listening to an album with a collection of songs from different artists. I was so caught up in the music that I think it was the fastest (DO NOT SPEED, PLEASE), smoothest and most enjoyable drive I have ever had.

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And finally, how often has something you smelled in the air taken you to your childhood and calmed you right down? The smell of cookies always takes me back to Christmas mornings as a child and fills me with happiness. It reminds me of waking up and seeing the Christmas tree.

So, when you wake up in the morning, don’t go straight to your phone. You never know what you will see there; you have no control over it. It might be a message that is just going to get you all wound up. Let the first thing you see be something that inspires you or something you love or, if you are religious, something motivational from a sacred text. And your day is already off to a bright start.

And stay away from cute cat videos on YouTube; you will never get anything done.

I have already said what music can do for you, but it also can cut down on the static noise around you that can distract and disturb you. It will help you focus your attention on what you are doing. Not everything will help you focus; some might even distract you. So, find what works for you.

Last but not least, the sense of smell. I keep a scented candle with a scent that I have come to associate with peace of mind in my room. It is not always lit, but I light it up when I feel stressed, and I know it helps me calm down quicker.

Be in the present

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When we are working or studying, many of us are thinking of the next thing we must do. We are very seldom focused on what we are doing, resulting in not doing justice to what we must get done right now. And when we don’t do things right, we get demotivated. And then the downward spiral of your day begins. Hopefully, by activating your senses, you will be better able to focus on what you are doing, thereby finishing your tasks efficiently and staying motivated throughout the day.

We understand that the challenges of doing a master’s degree online, along with working and managing your family, can get stressful, and there might be times when you feel demotivated. Hopefully, these three tips will help you stay motivated a little longer.

What other thing did you do to stay motivated right through your day? Let us know in the comments. We would appreciate it.

If this blog has motivated you to challenge yourself and do a master’s degree, then have a look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might be offering at this time.