Hey graduate students! How are you doing? I hope you are doing well, and Happy New Year to you and your family! I wish you all the best of luck along with peace, health and happiness. You did an excellent job last year, and I hope you are excited about this year, and rest of the semester ahead.

The new semester is underway, and it is important to start and maintain your plans for a prosperous semester.  Many parts of our life require careful planning such as study, as well as others like travelling, buying something new, or saving money. Of course, planning is necessary, but execution is equally important. If you have plans for the year, or have already started working on them, please let us know in this post’s comment section. However, if you are unsure and have no plans for yourself, then follow along with me and we can make a plan together.

Happy new year 2022. I hope that the new year will be the best year of your life. May all your dreams come true and your hopes be fulfilled.

Image source: https://hpbd.name/

 

  1. Looking back on the last year

Before making plans for the 2022, please ask yourself: what we did and what we did not do in 2021. Which goals have been accomplished, and which ones have not been done yet? And then, make a detailed list of each. It is important to ask “why?”.

For the goals you have accomplished, ask yourself questions and find the answers: “Why did we accomplish this goal? Was it on our own or do we need to thank others for help? Can we do it better?” On the other hand, with unfulfilled goals, you may also need to ask the question “Why?” to draw lessons for yourself. Please remember, a lesson from failure is sometimes more valuable than success.

Colourful letters spell out the word SMART. A pen draws the words specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely.

Image source: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/smart-goal/

 

  1. Setting goals for the new year

In my view, this is a significant step, affecting your success in the coming year. With clear goals, you can plan detailed tasks. Setting goals is not always easy; if you are serious about your goals, and you take time to determine what they are, you are halfway to achieving them.

I recommend setting your goals based on this principle, “SMART,” which means “Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely.” Otherwise, list all the types of goals you have for 2022: Work, study, income, family, personal development, charity, mental health, etc. Then, make a detailed plan by yourself.

  1. Make a detailed plan

List at least three goals you want to achieve for each area of your life, then choose the most important one. If you still cannot select a destination, write down the following questions and find your answers: What is most important to me in the coming year? Why is it the most important? When do I achieve that goal? Am I happy?

After you have set goals, you need to make a detailed plan; remember that the more specific the goal, the higher the chance of realizing it. You can apply the “5W, 1H” approach of asking and answering:

  • What: To achieve this goal, what do you have to do?
  • Where: Where will you work?
  • When: When to do? When to finish?
  • Why: Why do you need to do those things?
  • Who: Who will support you? Who is involved?
  • How: How would you do it? How will you check your results?

The more questions and answers you ask, the easier it will be to visualize what needs to be done. After you have a list and implementation plan, please write it down in a calendar (on paper or using software, such as Google Calendar) to easily track and remind yourself daily.

OK, let’s start planning for our 2022 goals right now! Take care and stay safe!

~ Nhan