For graduate students, including those in a Master of Business Administration program, the start of the new year is also the start of a fresh semester. Regardless of how you felt about the last semester of coursework in your MBA program, you know that you have a clean slate ahead of you as you continue your graduate degree program.
Now is the time to make a resolution that you can keep. Below, the experts at UTC’s Gary W. Rollins College of Business assembled a list of 10 resolutions for MBA students. These resolutions, or goals, were specifically designed for graduate students. You’re encouraged to read through and personalize them to suit your own needs:
1. Commit to Setting Attainable Goals
Avoid those resolutions that you know you won’t stick to, such as getting perfect scores on every assignment or getting up two hours early every day to fit in a full workout. Rather, make a commitment to set reasonable goals that you can reach by taking small steps forward every day.
Think of a large goal that you would like to reach by the end of the semester and break it down into short-term goals that you can work toward along the way. Take it one step further by creating personal daily goals that will keep you focused on your short-term and long-term goals.
2. Find Creative Ways to Participate More in Each Course
Whether or not participation counts toward your grade for a particular course, you understand you’ll get more out of it when you put extra effort into the experience. Participating in your MBA courses can help you develop a better rapport with your professor as well as allow you to become more comfortable with the material.
In a time when many courses are being offered virtually, you may need to find new and innovative ways to participate. Schedule Zoom meetings with your professor to discuss any questions or ideas that you have. You could also set up virtual study sessions for you and your classmates. Increasing your participation will help you develop the skills you will really need to succeed in the business world after graduation.
3. Design a New Learning Space for Yourself
If you’ve been spending a lot of time sitting at your kitchen counter during your virtual lectures or if your bed has become your desk, you may want to make a resolution to design a new learning space for yourself in 2023. This can be a fun personal project that allows you to put your creative energy to good use. Once you have your designated space all set up, you will feel more mentally prepared to work on your assignments each day.
4. Resolve to Make Self Care a Priority
On the surface, it may sound counterintuitive to take more frequent breaks from studying or paper writing. However, in reality, taking better care of yourself should be an important part of your daily routine. When you make time to do the things that you truly enjoy, you will feel more prepared to work hard when the time comes.
5. Commit to Decluttering Your Digital Life
Traditionally, many people take the new year as an opportunity to begin a clean slate. They may focus on keeping their house tidy or cleaning up their office. However, as an MBA student who is likely completing a lot of work online, now may be the perfect opportunity to declutter your digital life.
Take some time to free up space on your computer or phone and create folders to organize all of the files that you have stored for your MBA program. Many people are surprised by how good they feel when they dedicate themselves to having an orderly digital life.
6. Discover Fun Ways to Reward Yourself
Setting small goals is important, but it’s also crucial that you reward yourself along the way for reaching those goals. For example, if you meet your personal daily goals every day of the week, make sure you treat yourself to something fun and indulgent on Friday evening. It may be a favorite coffee beverage that you normally don’t spend the money on or a carry out meal with friends. Treating yourself to something that you wouldn’t normally enjoy will help keep you motivated and incentivize you to continue working toward your larger, long-term goals.
7. Take on a New Challenge that Will Complement Your Career Goals
If you are enrolled in an MBA program, then there is a high probability that you have a career goal in mind. Most people enroll in an MBA program so that they can take the next step in their career or to get a foot in the door of a new industry.
Whatever your career goal, start the semester by taking on a new challenge that will help you reach your goal. It may be joining a new club on campus or getting involved in a volunteer organization. As you search for something new to try, remember to be purposeful. You will want to be able to apply any new skills or connections to your career.
8. Decide to Switch Up Your Routine
One of the best ways to break old habits and start new ones is to create a new routine that you can stick to. It might be something as simple as setting your alarm to wake you up 15 minutes earlier than normal to give you more time to get organized in the morning. Or you may need to revamp your entire schedule. A fresh and consistent routine can help you turn your resolutions into positive habits that you carry with you for the rest of your life.
9. Hold Yourself Accountable by Committing to Group Goals
It is often easier to stay committed to a resolution when you aren’t going it alone. Connect with some of your MBA classmates and decide on a resolution you can pursue as a group. For example, your group could:
- Commit to a weekly study session to go over the coursework from the week.
- Work out 20 minutes every day and provide everyone with an activity log.
- Check in with each other on a daily basis to ensure everyone has completed the coursework.
10. Budget Better Throughout the Next Semester
If you are an MBA student on a budget, then you should consider making a resolution to budget better throughout the next semester. As you improve your financial habits in your personal life, you will develop the skills you need to succeed as a business professional after graduating with your MBA.
By deciding on specific and attainable resolutions for the new year, you will be more likely to be successful. Don’t commit to a lofty goal that will be nearly impossible to reach. Build your success step-by-step. Find resolutions—or goals—that suit your lifestyle while still allowing you to strive to be a better MBA student in the coming semester.
For more information about the MBA program at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, contact us today.
