“New year, new me” is everyone’s favorite phrase this time of year. People all over the world see the next year as an opportunity for personal growth. Since pageantry is all about becoming and loving the best version of yourself, it’s no surprise that contestants take New Year’s resolutions very seriously. Here are some resolutions you can set to start your year off on the right foot:
Organization and Time Management
Pageant girls do it all. They’re athletes, dancers, instrumentalists, cheerleaders, public speakers, entrepreneurs, students, and more. Without the essential life skills of organization and time management, it can feel like you’re being pulled in all directions, making it difficult to stick to commitments. By making these skills a resolution, you’re setting yourself up for future success in and out of pageantry. A great place to start is buying (and regularly using) a planner!
For tips on developing time management skills, check out this article where I breakdown how to overcome procrastination.
Platform Development
Everyone’s passionate about something, why not share it with the world? Pageant girls take this a step further by creating platforms that allow them to share a message with their community. Not only will you be making a difference and showing that pageant girls are more than a pretty face, you’ll develop public speaking and leadership skills that will help you later on! Plus, it gives you something impressive to talk about in interview.
For tips on platform development, check out the Win A Pageant Podcast by Alycia Darby (available on Youtube and all podcast apps).
Physical and Mental Health
Physical health is more than an active wear competition; it’s about taking care of yourself by following a healthy lifestyle. Fitness looks different for everyone; some people stay fit through cheerleading or dance while others prefer going to the gym. Be sure to try new things and develop a plan that works for you! Fitness should be fun.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially for pageant contestants. Confidence and a clear mind are essentials for life in and out of the pageant community. Some happy habits I have are reading self-help books, meditation, and journaling.
I’m no expert on fitness, but I’m trying my best and learning along the way. You can read about my fitness preparation for Miss Massachusetts Teen USA here.
Support Systems
It takes a village to succeed in anything, which is why it’s so important to develop a strong support system when competing in pageants. This can include relatives, close friends, directors coaches, and more. They’re great for reminding you of your goals and purpose, having someone to confide in, and cheering you up on a not-so-great day. You can start to develop a strong support system by sharing your goals with your close circle and asking how you can support them in their goals.
Not a Crown
This one may come as a shock, but I would never recommend someone’s goal to be a title. Why? Because it’s out of your control! We all know that you can do your very best on pageant weekend and still not take home the crown. Regardless of whether or not you win a title, you should always celebrate your personal and performance achievements of the week!
Setting goals is one of five important things you should do before pageant weekend. To read more about how to set goals that result in the most productive pageant weekend and other things you should do before you go, check out this post.
Next Steps
Writing down resolutions is a great first step, but in order to set yourself up to achieve them you have to develop a plan. Be sure to check out the linked resources for each resolution to learn more about how you can take steps to achieve them and develop a list of detailed action items you can perform on a regular basis.
Happy New Year!
Jordan