Reading - Fresh Start: Making Goals That Stick

Read the text below and complete the activities:

Every January, millions of people around the world make New Year’s resolutions. The most common goals are usually about health, money, or learning a new skill. We start with a lot of energy and motivation. However, statistics show that by February, about 80% of people have already given up. Why does this happen?

The main problem is that people often set goals that are too vague or too difficult. For example, saying "I want to get fit" is not a clear plan. A better goal is "I am going to exercise for 30 minutes, three times a week." This is what experts call a SMART goal: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

Another reason for failure is trying to change too much at once. If you try to quit sugar, wake up at 5:00 AM, and learn a new language all in the same week, you will probably feel overwhelmed. It is better to focus on one small change at a time. Remember, consistency is more important than perfection. If you miss one day, don’t quit. Just start again the next day.

ACTIVITIES

1 - Choose the correct answer.

2 - Match the words from the text with their definitions.