Summary
The topic discusses strategies for making and keeping New Year resolutions, highlighting the importance of willpower and realistic goal-setting. It also explores the benefits and challenges of resolutions, emphasizing the need for specific plans and self-kindness.
- Resolution — a promise to make a change or improvement in the new year.
Example: Deciding to exercise more regularly. - Willpower — the ability to control impulses and stick to decisions.
Example: Resisting the temptation to skip a workout. - Willpower Profile — understanding personal tendencies to better manage willpower.
Example: Identifying if you are impulsive and need to plan accordingly. - Specific Goals — clear and detailed plans for achieving resolutions.
Example: Writing 500 words of a novel every morning. - Lapses — temporary failures or setbacks in maintaining resolutions.
Example: Missing a workout session but planning to resume the next day.
Exam Tips
Key Definitions to Remember
- Resolution: a promise to make a change or improvement.
- Willpower: the ability to control impulses and stick to decisions.
- Specific Goals: clear and detailed plans for achieving resolutions.
Common Confusions
- Thinking willpower is a talent rather than a skill.
- Believing that resolutions must be kept perfectly without any lapses.
Typical Exam Questions
- What is a resolution? A promise to make a change or improvement in the new year.
- How can willpower be improved? By practicing and understanding your willpower profile.
- Why are specific goals important? They provide clear steps and make it easier to achieve resolutions.
What Examiners Usually Test
- Understanding of the concept of resolutions and willpower.
- Ability to evaluate strategies for making and keeping resolutions.
- Application of advice from texts to real-life scenarios.