New Year Goals for Postgraduate Students

06/01/2022

Do you have New Year goals or New Year resolutions for 2022? Here are some you’ll want to keep…

A New Year means new opportunities to do things differently. And we’re not just talking about dieting post-Christmas. Sure, it’s important to have a health kick to start off the year, but it’s also good to think about some longer term New Year goals.

If you want New Year resolutions that can help you improve your studies and transform your experience at university, here are some that every student should follow!

Learn something new


When you learn something new, you exercise different parts of your brain. So taking up a new hobby, a new skill, a new sport or a new language can keep your mind sharp! This can improve cognitive functions such as concentration, attention to detail, memory recall and problem solving, which can all prove to be useful for your degree.

Participate more in classes


During your master’s, there’s a lot more focus on independent study. But this doesn’t mean interacting and working with others isn’t important too. Set some New Year goals that could improve your communication and collaboration skills. Participate in classes by sharing your opinion, ask questions, and have the confidence to challenge different ideas and theories.

Do something out of your comfort zone


It can be easy to get stuck in a comfortable routine, especially when you’re busy doing a postgraduate course. There’s very little time to consider anything else when your workload is piling up. But stepping outside of your comfort zone every so often is actually good for your brain and mental agility.

By doing something different and pushing yourself, you create just enough ‘good stress’ to turbocharge your focus, creativity and drive. And this helps you respond to life stress when unexpected things happen.

Join a club or society


A great way of getting out of your comfort zone is to join a club or society, or taking up a sport or hobby that you wouldn’t normally do. This is also one of the best New Year goals for students who also want an easy way to meet new people.

Make a new friend


Social skills are essential for the workplace, so working on these skills is just as vital as studying hard in your degree. Put your people skills to the test by making new friends. Be kind to people in your course, create or join a study group, or invite someone to spend time with you outside of class.

Start the day off with exercise


Research shows that working out in the morning can boost brain function, even if you are strapped to a desk for the rest of the day. That’s excellent news for early risers who like the attack the day with a run or a gym session. If you’re not much of a morning person, try adapting your body clock slowly by going to bed a little earlier each night, and moving your mealtimes to an earlier time.

Set daily goals


Sticking to New Year resolutions is notoriously hard. But by breaking down your New Year goals and objectives into smaller tasks, you can stay motivated and find joy in smaller achievements.

Some tips to sticking to (and hitting) daily goals:

·         Keep your list short (3-4 goals per day)

·         Write them out the night before

·         Allow extra time in your schedule to get everything done

·         Use goal tracking apps on your mobile and set reminders

 

We wish all of our students who are studying a master’s or postgraduate degree the best of luck in getting the brand New Year off to a good start.

If you’re looking at applying for a postgraduate course, there’s nowhere better to begin your journey than the University of Bolton. As a leading Greater Manchester university that puts students and their needs first, we deliver #UniAsItShouldBe, ensuring you enjoy a memorable university experience.

To find out more about applying in 2022, see our available courses.

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