We think learning to fly is the perfect New Year’s resolution – however, it can be tough to stick to these types of lofty goals, and many people let their resolutions fall behind after just a few weeks into the new year. If you’re like the rest of us, you’ve probably made one or two New Year’s resolutions for 2020. If learning to fly is one of them, here are some tips on getting started—and sticking to it.
Stick with One Resolution
It’s easy to boldly proclaim New Year’s resolutions as the clock strikes midnight – ‘be nicer to people’, ‘contribute more money to savings’, ‘exercise daily’, ‘travel more’. We’ve all done it, be honest. But, spreading yourself thin is the wrong approach to accomplishing your dream. So, if your New Year’s resolution is to learn to fly, stick with that singular goal until you complete it. And, once you’ve checked that off the list, you can feel free to conquer your next resolution. Plus, getting your private pilot license doesn’t take all that long – most people complete flight school in as little as three months. And with accelerated pilot training, you can become a licensed pilot in as little as three weeks.
Track Your Goals to Stay Motivated
It’s almost February and many people have already pushed their resolutions aside. Don’t be that person! Instead, be the person that you wanted to be at the time the ball dropped in Times Square. After making a resolution, stay motivated by continually working on your goals, no matter how many setbacks. Many experts agree that keeping a log or journal of your progress is key to staying on track. Use this to write down all of your struggles, successes and lessons learned. Continue to write down the reason why you want to accomplish your resolution of becoming a pilot so that you can keep it on the top of your mind. Refer to the journal whenever you’re feeling like giving up, as it will serve as a constant reminder of where you are and where you want to be. You may actually end up being one of the people that can confidently say that you stuck to your New Year’s resolution.
Break Down Big Resolutions into Actionable Steps
Learning to fly a plane isn’t an effortless undertaking, but by breaking down the resolution into actionable steps, it makes your chances of success that much more likely. Just by making the initial phone call to a flight training company and scheduling a discovery flight can give your resolution legs. Even when the going gets tough and you’re in the thick of it, having a plan of action will help set you on the right path to achieve your goal. For example, you can tier your flight training to make it easier on yourself by first undergoing ground school. Once that’s done, you can move on to actually flying with an instructor. It may take longer, but this isn’t a race – when you’ve committed to checking off your objectives one-by-one, you’ll be that much closer to becoming a licensed pilot.
Don’t Let Set Backs Get You Down
No one is perfect. Let’s not pretend otherwise. Whether you experience minor or major setbacks, they shouldn’t detract from your desire to become a licensed pilot. Don’t just give up because you didn’t pass a certain test or checkride during flight school. Instead, try to uncover lessons in every failure. For instance, what did you learn about yourself, your studying habits, your confidence—and what can you do differently next time? Discuss these things with your flight instructor. They can help provide professional insight into things you may have done wrong and how to improve. Always try to highlight the benefits of your learning and vision and get back on the right path.
Rely on a Support System
While it may seem cliché, having a strong support system really does work. Not only will other people help you stay motivated, they provide guidance and can tell you when you’re drifting from your resolution. If you want to learn to fly, there’s almost no other community that’s more tight-knit than that of pilots. Get to know the regulars that hang around the hangar and strike up a conversation. Many of them will be able to personally recall their failures and successes when learning to fly. There are also flight instructors, to whom you can explain your goals and ask them to help you stick to your objectives. It’s the instructor’s duty to ensure that you stay on track until your vision is realized.
Are You Ready to Accomplish Your 2020 Resolution?
Then get in touch with Inflight Pilot Training today! We are the premier flight school in Minneapolis/St. Paul and will set you on the right track to achieve your goal of learning to fly. We develop personalized plans, designed around how you want to learn as a student. Our flight instructors are experienced in providing individual attention to each and every person that comes through our hangar doors. If you’re trying to accomplish your New Year’s resolution, contact our team today and realize your dream of flying a plane.
Ready to get started? Contact us today or call (952) 698-3000.