Just Start: 2024 New Year's Resolution Social Emotional Learning Lesson SEOT 001

Making a New Year's Resolution is easy. Actually doing it is hard work.

• SEOT Steps to Success Strategy 001 is to JUST START.

• NO PREP reading passage with discussion questions and answer key.

• Print the PDF, show the optional video, and discuss.

• Give students opportunities to develop SELF AWARENESS and SELF CONTROL by setting goals.

UPDATED Jan 9, 2024: This new version is now much easier to use.

• There is a single PDF to print. Links to the Microsoft Word and Google Docs are included in the PDF.

• The student handout now includes a QR code to the YouTube video. If students are allowed to use phones, they can scan the code at the bottom of their handout to go to the video.

NOTE:

• Here's the FREE YouTube video lesson - show it IN-PERSON in class or use it for ONLINE learning

• The handout article is a tidied up transcription of the video with questions

• Please look at the preview file (besides the product cover images.) It shows you exactly what you get.

• You can edit the Microsoft Word and Google Docs files

• Includes Digital Version (Easel by TpT)

SEOT is a way to think about how to achieve your goals. It’s an acronym. It stands for Strategies, Effort, Optimize, and Tinker. 

JUST START

SEOT Steps to Success #001

It doesn’t matter whether you're setting a New Year's resolution or you're just trying to achieve a goal. At some point, we all want more out of life. 

Sometimes, the hardest part of achieving your goals is just starting. People often talk about wanting more success in life 

• Getting better marks
• Having great relationships with friends, family, and others
• Finding a job or making more money 
• Looking great and getting fit, or 
• Just being happy…

Sometimes all we do is talk, wish, or dream. How often do we set New Year's resolutions that we forget about? If you are like most people, you just end up doing the same things and getting the same results. 

SEOT is a way to think about how to achieve your goals. It’s an acronym. It stands for Strategies, Effort, Optimize, and Tinker. 

SEOT Strategy #1 is to JUST START. 

Sometimes, we set a goal but we overthink, or we over-analyse, or we’re just afraid that we won't be a huge success, so we end up not trying. 

There are so many reasons not to try! People might laugh at us. People might think it's a dumb idea. People might say this will never work… And, they might be right! We tell ourselves that we don't have what it takes or there's other people who can do this better so why even try? It just won't work. 

Well, that might be true right now, but remember that at some point, even the best were just beginners. And, that's us right now. We're at the start of our journey. We’re just starting a New Year's resolution or new goal, or just trying to be better than who we were yesterday. 

So, no matter what your goal is, right now, just start. Don't worry about what happens next. Just start and figure the rest out later. 

Put it this way: If you're jumping into a pool, the water might be cold and you might be afraid to dip your toes. At some point, you just need to jump and get it over with! You'll figure things out pretty quickly! 

Who knows? The water might not be so bad! Or, you might get out of the water and think, “I'm never doing that again!” but you’ll learn from that experience. 

So, now is the time to start your goal. What will you start to do today? 

Discussion Questions

1. According to this article, what stops people from achieving their goals or New Year’s resolutions?
2. Why do you think those obstacles stop people from even trying?
3. How might this strategy help people to achieve their goal or New Year’s resolutions?
4. Why might this strategy not help people to achieve their goals?

TAKE ACTION: Think about a goal that you want to achieve. What is one thing that you could do today that would help bring you closer to that goal?

THIS LESSON GOES WELL WITH...

• FREE slideshow: teach students HOW to achieve goals and work SMARTER

• Growth Mindset section in Chapter 1. Character (8 lessons)

• Growth Mindset posters

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CHANGELOG

QR Code Update - Jan 8, 2024

• Content change: The student handout now includes a low-ink version of the icon. It also includes a QR code at the bottom which links to the video. Removed digital versions (PowerPoint / Easel handout)

• Simple Organization: Updated to the Educircles Single PDF format with one-click links to keep it simple.

“Version 2021-12-29” Keep It Simple, Silly! KISS update 

This version was posted on TpT on Thursday, Dec 30, 2021

Content Changes: Grammarly update to handout. Changed title font to Luckiest Guy.

Other changes: This product is now a zipped file (TpT digital download product format) instead of a Google Drive TpT product format. This will make it much easier to find in the bundle.

• The Easel by TpT file is attached to the product (instead of being a separate product.)

• Added a File Table of Contents with one-click links to the files you need.

If you have any questions, just ask below or send me an email at Mike@educircles.org