The new year is a time for change. Many adults use this time to set resolutions so they can improve themselves and create new habits.
Should teenagers also set resolutions? There are benefits and drawbacks. Before you encourage your teen to set New Year’s resolutions, ensure it’s the right fit for them.
The Benefits of Teens Setting Resolutions
If it’s right for your teen, setting New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to have a more productive and meaningful year.
By committing to specific goals, teens can become better equipped with the skills necessary to successfully manage their time, balance tasks, and set priorities for their academic aspirations and personal development.
Setting New Year’s resolutions also allows teenagers to learn the vital skill of goal setting. Goals help keep us on track and motivate us to reach the end destination we have in mind.
Establishing and meeting goals requires commitment, dedication, and focus — key elements important not only in succeeding at school but in everyday life as well. Working on goals now is much more manageable since parents are typically present to provide support when needed.
As you can see, there are a lot of great reasons for teens to set New Year’s resolutions. So what are the drawbacks?
Disadvantages to Teens Setting Resolutions
Setting big goals for yourself is stressful and can overwhelm adults, much less teens. Achieving goals requires a lot of dedication, perseverance, and discipline — three things that some teenagers may not have fully developed yet.
Finally, it’s not unusual for teenagers to measure their success or worth by how well they measure up to standards they’ve set for themselves. When they don’t meet those lofty benchmarks, it can take an emotional toll. Adding goals around New Year’s resolutions runs the risk of compounding that stress.
The best plan might be to simply have an open dialogue with your teen about what makes them feel good and how building on those positive traits could make a difference in their outlook and attitude.
Ideas for Teen Resolutions
What are some good ideas if you’ve decided to encourage your teen to set resolutions?
You might consider financial goals. Many teens want to save up for a car, which includes being able to pay for maintenance, gas, and car insurance. Letting teens research the costs of auto ownership can help them be safer drivers, since during their search they’ll find out that accidents increase premiums. If you are looking for a great place to start, Freeway Car Insurance has a reputation for helping young drivers find affordable rates despite their inexperience.
You can also consider academic goals, like getting a specific grade in a challenging class, or a goal related to a summer job or internship. They can even set a resolution to relax, meditate, or practice other stress management. There are a lot of options as long as your teen can take a positive approach to goal-setting!
Help Your Teen Have a Great Year
Not all teens need to set New Year’s resolutions to do well with their goals. However, for some teens, doing so can help them practice this important skill while still having your support at home.
Regardless of whether your teen sets resolutions or not, you can help them have a successful year!
