By DENIELLE LEONG
brats@thestar.com.my

It has taken me forever to write this particular article. While I would normally blame lethal doses of procrastination and Candy Crush; this time, my mind has been preoccupied with something entirely different – my plans for the new year!

This self-proclaimed (borderline) kiasu writer intends on accomplishing a lot in the next 365 days.

They’re not resolutions, though. I’m more of a planner, and I plan very much in advance. I make game plans – and not mere resolutions – to achieve my goals.

In 2013, I wanted to progress as a journalist so I decided (like, half a year ahead) that I would spend three months as an intern for
R.AGE before starting my degree.

I had it all planned out: I took a four-month gap after completing my foundation in arts, I sent in my application two months before that, and I completed the internship.

Not only did I spend three good months with R.AGE, I also got to continue growing as a journalist as part of the BRATs editorial team. I guess it’s safe to say my 2013 game plan worked.

But I wouldn’t know if it’s the same for others.

A few weeks ago, The Star Online had a survey asking its readers if they normally keep to their new year’s resolutions. Although they have yet to reveal the overall statistics, I believe we can all agree that people hardly do, and I think I know why.

Just the other day, a friend tweeted: “It’s almost 2014 and I haven’t started writing my resolutions. But it’s not like I follow them anyway.”

Perhaps we young people today are starting to lose our focus and direction to accomplish things. We’re so susceptible to distractions, laziness, complacency and temptation. We get bored so easily.

And that’s why the idea of resolutions has lost its value. They’re just a spark of temporary motivation brought about by some illusion of a new beginning at the start of the calendar year.

Yet we still try to make promises to ourselves on new year’s eve with hopes that, this time, it’s different.

From what I’ve learnt, especially in the past year, resolutions made without some kind of game plan usually end up fruitless.

So this year, try planning out your resolutions instead. Don’t just set a goal – plot out your journey to get there. And if you asked me, being a little kiasu helps sometimes.

On behalf of the BRATs, I would like to wish you all a happy 2014, and happy game planning!

The writer is the editor of the BRATs editorial team. BRATs is The Star’s young journalist programme, organised by R.AGE. For more information, go to facebook.com/starbrats.