The Gift of Time During the Holiday Season
Beyond the lights, gatherings, and noise of the holiday season, I was given something rarely allowed: time. Time to be with my children and spouse, to share with family, to pause, slow down, and reconsider our direction. These days not only help close out the year but also assist in clarifying which purposes we want to embrace for the upcoming year and, most importantly, which ones are worth leaving out.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Setting Resolutions
As January approaches, we often fall into the same trap: creating endless lists of resolutions. We believe that the more we include, the more committed we are to change. However, this is not the case.
First Mistake: Lack of Concrete Actions
The first error is failing to translate desires into specific, actionable steps. A resolution without knowing what, how, when, and where to act remains just a good intention. For something to become a habit, it requires structure, not just motivation.
Second Mistake: Overestimating Willpower
The second mistake is assuming our willpower can handle anything. It cannot. Psychology explains this clearly: willpower is like a battery that gets depleted with every decision, effort, and change. The more resolutions we set, the faster this battery drains.
Third Mistake: Neglecting Realism Amidst Enthusiasm
The third mistake is letting enthusiasm lead us without planning realistically. When we’re excited, our brains become overly optimistic. We believe things will happen quickly and easily, but when faced with reality, an internal alarm goes off: “This is complicated.” That’s when we give up.
Making Realistic Resolutions for a Better Year
If we genuinely want this year to be different, let’s avoid creating a long list of resolutions just for the sake of it. Be realistic. Make a short, honest list of what we truly want to achieve and focus on those goals.
Upcoming Analysis: Social Programs and Educational Impact
In future articles, I will focus on providing information, data, and context to help us see reality more clearly. Throughout the year, we will analyze social programs and their educational consequences in-depth.
For example, recently the National Economics Award winner analyzed how eliminating requirements to access Progresa led to a severe educational consequence: increased school abandonment. This example reinforces two principles from former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair: there should be no rights without responsibilities, and the best economic policy is education.
By conducting these analyses throughout the year, we aim to test a hypothesis that will challenge current practices in our country. To propel Mexico forward, the Secretary of Education Publica must absorb the Secretary of Well-being and, from an educational perspective, drive prosperity that we so richly deserve and yearn for.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main message of this article? The importance of setting realistic, actionable New Year’s resolutions instead of overambitious lists.
- Why are long resolution lists problematic? They lack concrete actions, overestimate willpower, and neglect realism.
- What is the proposed solution for better resolutions? Create a short, honest list of achievable goals and focus on them.
- What will the upcoming articles discuss? The impact of social programs on education, using data and context to promote clarity and informed decision-making.
- What is the hypothesis to be tested? The Secretary of Education Publica should absorb the Secretary of Well-being to drive educational prosperity.
