2020 is HERE. And with it comes the start of not only a new year, but a new decade full of exciting possibilities. It’s the perfect time to turn your dreams into reality and we’ve got some tips to help you do it.
Making New Year’s resolutions is a great way to embrace a fresh start and put yourself on the path to success. But yes, we know, making resolutions is the easy part. Keeping them is much harder (if not seemingly impossible). That’s why we’ve come up with a few resolution ideas that we know how to achieve.
If you’re dreaming of exploring the world and looking for the adventure of a lifetime, we’ve got your ticket to endless possibilities: TEFL certification. It’s the first step to starting a career teaching English abroad or online.
What are some New Year’s resolutions that you can achieve with a TEFL certification?
- Travel more.
- Learn a new skill.
- Find a job you love.
- Make a difference in people’s lives.
- Save more.
- Spend more on experiences than things.
- Cut down on screen time.
- Exercise more (without going to the gym).
- Get out of your comfort zone.
1. Travel more. ✈️
Traveling more is a popular New Year’s resolution because who doesn’t enjoy a good vacation?
There are so many different travel styles that there’s a way for everyone to enjoy time away from their everyday – whether you prefer lounging poolside at a Carribean resort, or trekking to secluded waterfalls in Northern Thailand.
Teaching English abroad is one of the best ways to get out and explore the world. With a TEFL certification, you can teach English in virtually any non-English-speaking country in the world.
With so many options, the hard part is figuring out where to go. We recommend checking out Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2020 list and Travel + Leisure’s list of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020 for some major travel inspiration.
If you can’t decide on one destination, you can opt to make money while traveling by teaching English online and work from anywhere with an internet connection.
With a TEFL certification, you’ll be able to start crossing off your travel bucket list in no time!
2. Learn a new skill. ?
Picking up a new skill is often the hardest resolution to achieve. It can take consistent practice to teach yourself something new. But with an online TEFL certification course, learning something new is easy.
As long as you choose the right TEFL course for you – one that complements your learning style – acquiring effective teaching skills can be a breeze. A good TEFL course will lay out a step-by-step guide on how to teach English language learners abroad or online.
If you’re eager to take off on your travel journey ASAP, then you can even do an online TEFL course while traveling!
Or, if you’re still finishing up your bachelor’s degree, you can get a TEFL certification while still in school. That way you can start your teach abroad adventure as soon as you graduate.
3. Find a job you love. ?
A meaningful career is one of the key factors to happiness, so it’s no wonder that this is often a top resolution. Who wants to spend 40 hours a week doing anything besides something they love?
Being a teacher can be a dream job not only because of the satisfaction you get from seeing your students achieve their best, but also because of the lifestyle it provides.
Teaching abroad can be the perfect mix of travel and work. You’ll need a TEFL certificate to teach English abroad, but once you’ve got that under your belt, the world is your oyster!
Happy in your current city? You can still work remotely from home as an online English teacher. There are a ton of companies that let you teach English from home and set your own schedule. That way you can also take time off whenever you need it!
4. Make a difference in people’s lives. ✨
Making a difference in the world is not just an annual resolution, but often a life goal for many people. Being able to bring joy to others and positively impact their lives provides a level of fulfillment that extends beyond just a career.
Teaching English abroad allows you to feel good about your work and yourself. Your classroom can be a fun place for your students and the skills they learn in it can advance their careers and positively change the course of their lives.
Every student should get the chance to experience the power of a great teacher, regardless of where they live in the world!
5. Save more. ?
Maybe your dreams are too big for one year, so you want to start 2020 with the goal of saving more money for your future plans. Well you’re in luck, since teaching English abroad is an easy way to make some extra income.
Many teaching contracts abroad include benefits such as housing and flights, which means you can put more of your pay aside each month. You can also opt for a country with a low cost of living, so that your earnings can go even further.
Plus, some contracts offer bonuses at the end of your term, so you can take a nest egg with you when you’re ready to move on.
Many teaching jobs base your salary off of your education and previous experience. That means that in order to earn a great salary teaching abroad you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the right education, including a TEFL certification.
We’ve rounded up some of the best places to save money teaching abroad to help you get started!
6. Spend more on experiences than things. ?
We all dream of treating ourselves by buying more of the latest fashion trends or splurging on the latest smartphone, but will that new item really spark more joy?
Sure, it may feel good in the moment, but that positive feeling won’t last as long as the memory of you scuba diving in the Pacific Ocean!
A new experience will not only result in life-long memories and less clutter, but it can result in longer-lasting happiness. Buying an experience can enrich your life by introducing you to new hobbies you love, meeting new like-minded people abroad and giving you more interesting stories to tell.
Teaching English abroad can help you see more of the world and eliminate the clutter that most of us have started to accumulate, since you there’s only so much you can take with you on your journey.
7. Cut down on screen time. ☀️
This may sound rich coming from a blog post – which you’re likely reading on a smartphone – but we’re not joking.
Did you know that US adults spend almost half their day consuming some form of media on their smartphone, TV, or laptop? Yup! We’re all guilty of spending too much time glued to our devices.
So reducing your daily screen time can have a bunch of benefits! While teaching English abroad, you’ll have loads more free time to dedicate to more meaningful things like travelling and spending time with new friends you’ll make along the way.
8. Exercise more (without going to the gym). ?
Ok, so maybe you went a little overboard with your holiday indulgences. No need to feel guilty about it. When you move abroad, you’ll be more inclined to go out and walk around more than usual, since you’ll want to make the most of your experience.
Walking may not seem like much of an exercise, but just an hour of walking a day can make a huge difference in your overall health and wellbeing.
You can easily boost up your daily steps by exploring the sleepy streets of a European city or hiking through mountainous landscapes in Southeast Asia. You’ll get exercise while you travel without even trying.
There’s no need to pay for a gym membership when the world can be your gym!
9. Get out of your comfort zone. ?
Personal growth happens outside of your comfort zone and teaching abroad is a great way to do it.
Living and working in a new place, experiencing a new culture and traveling solo are all great ways to push yourself beyond your limits!
There’s no time like the present to start living life to the fullest! ?
Every step you take towards improving yourself this year will lay the groundwork for building a fulfilling life you’re proud of. It’s never too late or too early to start something new.
Ready to start your journey to a fulfilling life teaching English abroad? Enroll in a TEFL course today and create a FREE Teach Away profile below, so that you can apply to teaching jobs as soon as you’re TEFL certified.