How to Choose the Best Resolutions for a New College Year

College Advice

college student sitting in dallas outside her brownstone

As your semester winds down and you begin to plan for the year ahead, think beyond your schedule of classes and invest time in setting resolutions that will help you grow as a student and friend, be a good steward of your resources, and, most importantly, mature in your faith and dedication to follow Christ more closely. Setting new year's resolutions can seem daunting, especially if you want to actually choose attainable goals. Fortunately, with a little practice, you can make resolutions that will help shape your choices in 2024 for the better.

The Best Goals are SMART

When trying to make the best New Year's resolutions as a college student, the first thing you should consider isn't the actual goals themselves; it's the process. How you choose your resolutions will influence whether or not you'll be checking things off the 2024 list all year long.

Research shows that S.M.A.R.T. goals make planning, sticking with, and achieving your resolutions easier. As you make your list this year, consider the following five characteristics to help you frame your goals.

Specific

Specific goals are easier to achieve. Putting in the work up-front to define how you'll complete a task will save you the effort when you're tired and overwhelmed mid-year. Instead of writing generalized statements such as "Get better grades," decide what specific change you're after, such as "Improve my G.P.A. by at least 0.25 points," a much clearer goal that allows you to assess how things are going month to month.

Measurable

When you have a specific goal, you'll need a way to determine whether you're making progress and when you've succeeded. The best New Year's resolutions allow you to actually complete them! If you'd like to "be more social on campus," there isn't a built-in way to decide whether you've met your goal. Instead, try something like "attend at least one on-campus event each month" so you can measure your progress and feel proud of your work. When attending the event, set yourself a goal to stay for at least 30 minutes before leaving.

Achievable

It may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people set goals that aren't actually achievable! Set yourself up for success by choosing something that's within your power to complete. If you'd like to run a marathon but haven't been on the track since elementary school, start smaller. Consider planning to run two or three shorter races that are coming to the area in 2024 instead. From there, create daily goals that are tailored towards the bigger goal. When we break a goal into steps, the goal is more achievable.

Relevant

Does your goal honor God? Have you prayed about your goals and asked the Lord to show you what His will is for your life in the new year? Does your goal fit into your bigger life plan? Will it add to your sense of purpose? Is it just for fun? These questions can help you decide whether a goal is relevant or not, and it's a highly individual decision. This step can stop you from setting goals that are trendy just for the sake of it. If you can't explain how the goal will improve your life or bring any honor to the Lord, then it might not be for you.

Timebound

Sometimes, goals are easy to achieve; sometimes, they take years of progress. The best New Year's resolutions will assign time constraints to your goals, giving you external motivation to complete them. Setting several smaller goals that won't take more than a month or two to complete can help keep your motivation strong.

Heart

However, SMART goals miss one key component: the heart. Our goals should matter in the big picture. How do our goals honor God? What really matters to us? What is our "why?" for a goal being on our list? A SMART goal is to run a 5K. A heart goal is to run a 5K so that I feel better, am healthier, and am glorifying God with the body He has given me. The stronger your heart goal is, the more likely you are to achieve your goals. Lara Casey shares in detail more of the differences between SMART goals and Heart goals.

Inspiration for College Resolutions

Once you know how to choose the best goals from your list, it's time to start brainstorming! Inspiration for New Year's resolutions for college students can come from many places. Think about what you've seen your peers achieve this year, what new interests you've cultivated, and where you hope to see yourself at the end of another year. Also, consider where the Lord is leading you to grow. Pray through the process. The Lord will often show us where He wants us to grow in the upcoming year. The less generic your resolutions, the better.

Ask Your Mentors

One of the best ways to develop New Year's resolutions is to ask your mentors for advice. If you don't have a mentor, seek one out this year who will lead and challenge you to progress in your personal, professional, and spiritual life. Speak with your pastors or Bible study leaders, a residential advisor, professors, and guest speakers during memorable events. If the person knows you well, ask them for advice about your strengths and areas needing growth and accountability. If the advisor is just an acquaintance, ask them what specific step(s) made a big difference in their personal journey and success. These answers can help you form relevant resolutions.

For instance, if they say you have excellent leadership potential but aren't good at following through on projects, two resolutions could be to "start a new on-campus club for xyz hobby and attract three new members" and "use a new academic planner that includes a space to write down individual steps for every project." In gathering information, don't forget to think through the why for each answer you receive from the trusted people in your life.

Take Inventory of Your Life

There are many things to consider as you identify your goals for the upcoming season. Consider the following questions:

What's working? What's not working?
What do you need to say "No" to? What should you say "Yes" to?
What commitments to Christ and to others do you need to renew?
Are there areas that need confession and repentance? Are there spiritual disciplines that need to be established or re-established? How will you prioritize time for prayer and meditation on God's Word?
How have you seen God move in your life? Where is He leading you?
As you brainstorm goals, what themes are you seeing?

Have Some Fun as a Group

Don't overlook that classic college humor regarding New Year's resolutions – not every goal has to be serious! Setting goals with your friends that allow you to bond, explore the area, or try new things is a great way to grow as an individual while having some fun. Here are a few ideas to keep things on the lighter side:

Take a photo wearing crazy hats at every taco stand in the Dallas area.
Plan a weekly picnic lunch and take turns cooking a new recipe from a famous cookbook every time.
Visit a new coffee shop in the DFW area once a month.
Memorize the DBU Fight Song and sing it to each other as motivation before final exams.
Invite a friend to work out with each week. It's also great for incorporating accountability and some fun!
Attend a few concerts together during the upcoming semester.
Show your school spirit by cheering on your DBU Patriots by attending some athletics games.
Attend one of the many Student Life events.
Continue exploring all the DFW metroplex has to offer.

Incorporate Check-Ins for Your Goals

Discipline is key to maintaining your resolutions. Check-in daily, weekly, and monthly. Consider how you are doing. What's working? What's not working? Are you making progress? Be sure to share your progress with an accountability partner. It's better to be honest with them than avoid the topic. We are not going to make perfect progress. Instead, look at how you are making imperfect progress. Consider the wins and the progress you are making. Are you getting closer to achieving your goals? Do you need to make any adjustments? Also, consider changing goals altogether.

Be Honest and True to Who God has Uniquely Made You to Be

Above all, the best New Year's resolutions for college students align with their personal values and goals with God's will and growing in discipleship to Christ. Aim for a balance with resolutions. They need to push you outside your comfort zone while staying true to how God has uniquely created you. Put thoughtful time into creating your resolutions, and you'll be rewarded with good things in the coming year. Remember, any day can be your fresh start! It doesn't have to be January 1^st. December 29^th or January 3^rd can be your new start! You've got this!

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:10, ESV)