The start of the school year, the return from a holiday or the beginning of a new year are good moments for a fresh start. The trick is making school resolutions last more than a few days. Here is how to choose them, with a selection of practical ideas for parents, pupils and students.
Why so many school resolutions fail
Most good resolutions are too vague (“work harder”) or too ambitious (“get 80% in everything”). They describe a hoped-for result, not what needs to happen tomorrow evening.
Another common mistake: taking ten at once. Changing several habits at the same time takes a lot of energy, and first-day motivation fades quickly.
The keys to a school resolution that works
Before choosing, keep three criteria in mind:
- Simplicity: a clear action, easy to put in place and to check.
- Realism: a goal suited to the level, the age and the actual weekly schedule.
- Regularity: a small step repeated every day is worth more than one big occasional effort.
In practice, replace “get good at maths” with “I spend 15 minutes every evening redoing a maths exercise”. The goal becomes measurable, and every successful evening is a small, visible step forward.
A 4-step method to choose your resolutions
- Take stock: what went wrong over the past months? Forgotten homework, last-minute studying, tiredness, one subject in particular?
- Choose one or two resolutions, no more, directly linked to what you noticed.
- Decide when and where: “after my afternoon snack, at my desk” rather than “every day”. A resolution tied to a specific moment becomes a habit more easily.
- Review after three or four weeks: keep it, adjust it, or add a new one.
This advice applies to everyone, but each profile has its own priorities. Pick what suits you from the lists below.
School resolutions for parents
Parents play a key role in school success, especially in primary school and the first years of secondary. These resolutions help create an environment that supports learning:
- I set up a quiet, bright homework corner with no distractions.
- I keep a regular bedtime: sleep matters a lot for concentration in class.
- I set a simple rule for screens during homework, and I follow it too.
- I encourage my child’s independence: I help them get organised without doing the work for them.
- I praise their effort, not just their marks.
- I take a few minutes every day to talk about their school day.
- I keep a moment each week just for my child, unrelated to school.
If homework has become a source of tension at home, outside help can calm things down: that is the idea behindhomework help.
For pupils in the last years of primary school
At this age, work habits are taking shape. A few simple resolutions are enough to get better organised:
- I use my school planner and write down all my homework and lessons.
- I pack my school bag the night before so I don’t forget anything.
- I go over my lessons for 10 to 15 minutes every evening.
- I work in short sessions, with a little break in between.
- I read one book a month, for fun and for my vocabulary.
- I ask a question when I don’t understand.
For pupils in years 1 to 3 of secondary school
Starting secondary school means more subjects, more teachers and more tests. Good resolutions focus on time management and regularity:
- I reread my notes every evening, even when there is no homework.
- I plan my week on Sunday: tests, homework, activities.
- I sort my tasks by urgency and difficulty.
- I summarise each lesson in a few lines or on a revision card.
- I test myself with exercises instead of just rereading.
- I ask at least one question a week in class.
For pupils in years 4 to 6 of secondary school
Subjects get denser and exams heavier. Organisation often makes the difference:
- I start revising several weeks before the exams, with a plan for each subject.
- I make revision cards or mind maps chapter by chapter, not the night before.
- I work in blocks of about 45 minutes, with real breaks.
- I leave my phone in another room when I study.
- I keep up a sport or hobby to unwind.
- I ask for help as soon as I fall behind in a subject, without waiting for the report card.
To go further on studying itself, read our 5 tips to study and pass your exams, and our article on the impact of social media on students’ lives.
For students in higher education
At university or college, nobody checks whether you keep up. Independence becomes the key skill:
- I plan each week in advance, including lectures, assignments and study time.
- I tidy up my notes every week so I don’t discover everything during the exam study period.
- I set monthly goals that break big assignments into steps.
- I study with other students from time to time to test my understanding.
- I look after my sleep, my diet and my physical activity.
- I give myself time to relax without feeling guilty.
Keeping your resolutions over time
A resolution that slips one evening is not lost. What matters is picking it up again the next day rather than giving up altogether.
A few tips to keep going:
- write your resolutions down and put them up near your desk;
- tick off every successful day in a planner or calendar;
- talk about them with someone encouraging: a parent, a friend or a teacher;
- celebrate small victories, not just the final result.
These ideas are suggestions, not recipes: every pupil has their own pace, and what works for one may not suit another. It is best to try, observe and adjust.
A helping hand to get organised
Sometimes willpower is not enough: the pupil does not know how to get organised, or a gap has built up. A coach can then help them build a suitable study method and regain confidence. At My Sherpa, an educational advisor chooses the coach according to the pupil’s needs, for lessons at home anywhere in Belgium or online.
