New Year's Resolution #3

Sorry about the gap - weary tales...

Another top ten resolution is to learn something new – pass an exam, learn a language or acquire a new skill.

As always, success will follow if you follow the top tips for new year’s resolutions (2nd Jan post) – what is it that has made you decide to learn something new? A common choice, is learning to speak a new language, often so that we can talk to the locals on our summer holiday rather than assuming that everyone can speak English. This choice is probably linked to the fact that at the start of the year our days are short and cold – especially this year when I didn’t think I’d ever feel the warmth of the sun on my skin again, I’m still not quite convinced – together with the Boxing Day tradition of running summer holiday adverts – along with those for new sofas, what’s with that?

Anyway, to have best chance of making it stick, begin with the end in sight. Be clear about why you want to learn this new thing and what the benefits of doing so will be to you.

Next, do some research – make sure that you can afford the undertaking in both time and money, don’t let either of these reasons be an excuse for not going ahead though, find a work around. If you really want to do it, you’ll find one and if you don’t, fine, go with the excuse, better now than when you’re underway. Giving up is so depressing.

As always, make sure you’re clear of the benefits. These will keep you going when it’s much easier to curl up in front of the fire and watch TV rather than take action.

If you can, get a study-buddy. Great if it’s someone with whom you can share the same experience. But if not, someone else who is committing to learn something new too will definitely do. You can help keep each other going, you have that responsibility to someone other than yourself and you can congratulate each other on your progress as you go along.

Use what’s out there. There are so many resources available to help – including financial help. This goes back to the research. Find out what’s available to you for what you want to do and make use of it to help you reach your goal – learn from others who’ve trodden the path and made it.

It might not always be easy, but if it’s worthwhile, that won’t matter by the time you get to the end. It’ll just be one more cause for celebration. It wasn’t easy, but you were resilient and kept going – possibly another skill you’ll have learnt.

Good luck!