7 Best New Year’s Resolutions for University Students
With 2019 behind us and 2020 just beginning, everyone is beginning to think about their New Year’s resolutions.
Whether you’re a New Year resolutions veteran or this is your first time, it’s always good to have a goal in mind to set yourself up for success.
As a student, many goals go hand in hand with academic achievement and career progress. However, it’s important to create personal goals as well to set yourself up for overall success. Check out these 7 New Year's resolutions that are perfect for any college and university student!
1. Identify Achievable and Realistic Study Habits
It’s no secret that when students begin making New Year resolutions, their main focus is their academics. Start off your New Year by trying to find the best study methods that will help you achieve your goals.
Try out new tactics such as studying in different areas, colour coding your notes, or studying with different music. Finding new study habits that help keep you focused and concentrated could help improve the way you learn and manage your time. Remember, the most important thing is finding methods that work for you.
Check out our article on How to Create an Effective Study Schedule! Also, don’t be afraid to ask your TA for help when needed. They’re there to help you every step of the way and ensure you’re on the right path to success!
2. Find a Healthy Balance between Academics and Personal Life
During your time at university, it's easy to put all your attention into academics, extracurriculars, or your personal life. Finding a healthy balance between all three will help lower your stress and anxiety levels. It is important to understand yourself as a person to ensure you’re creating a healthy time management schedule to achieve your goals.
Time management often fails when the student is either a perfectionist or creates unrealistic expectations for themselves. If you find yourself struggling either academically or personally, it might be time to rethink how you’re managing your time. You may be surprised at how reallocating one to two hours can make a difference.
3. Create a List of Daily Tasks
Sometimes, it only takes little changes to create the best habits. By making a list of small tasks to improve your day to day life, it could help motivate you to start making bigger changes.
Tasks such as making your bed every day, testing out the 2 minute rule, or meditating for 5 minutes are small easy habits to incorporate into your everyday routine.
Depending on what you want to focus on in 2020, try thinking of 2 – 4 realistic tasks that you want to try to do every day. Setting these small habits in your personal life can help improve your overall well-being and create good habits for the future.
4. Find a Workout You Love
Whether it’s a workout class or an online video, try to find a workout you enjoy in the New Year. Even though university can feel overwhelming balancing both a social life and full class schedule, regular exercise has a lot of benefits to help students deal with depression and stress.
The endorphins and serotonin released into the body through physical exercise has been proven to help students release tension.
This is beneficial during periods of high stress such as finals week. In addition, exercise has been linked to an improvement in memory and concentration. Even if the gym isn’t your thing, try to find a time to incorporate regular exercise such as a long walk or bike ride!
5. Learn Something New
It’s easy to get caught into a routine and catch yourself getting into a rut. One of the best ways to counteract this is by learning something new! Whether it be learning about a topic outside or your program or attending an event you never heard of before, it’s a great way to step out of your comfort zone and push yourself to do things you’ve never thought of doing before.
Learning outside of your normal university classes is important to help broaden your knowledge about the world around you. Taking the time to get out of your comfort zone might even surprise yourself about what you learn!
6. Set up A Realistic Budget
Creating good financial habits is a crucial part of your university experience. For the first time, you’re able to make big decisions on how you make and spend your money.
While it is easy to justify why you need that extra bottle of vodka to get lit, creating a budget will help ensure you’re saving money and not spending it on non-essentials. Let’s be honest, no one needs that special addition penny board because it was $33 instead of the usual $99 on Amazon Prime Day. The trick to this is being specific and realistic.
By seeing how much money you really spend on a day to day basis, it will open your eyes to what areas you can cut down on to save money. Creating a budget will help you determine how much you need to live the life you want. For more budgeting tips, check out our 5 Ways to Save Money in University!
7. Learn Quick and Healthy Recipes
Living in residence can make it difficult for you to make healthy decisions, especially when you have a cafeteria downstairs that is stocked with chocolate, chicken tenders, and french fries.
While cooking might not be an option if you live in a dorm room without a stove and oven, learning to make easy healthy snacks can help curb your cravings and stop you from making unhealthy choices.
Even without proper cooking equipment, many residences have public microwaves that are beneficial to creating dorm-friendly meals. Try putting a few eggs in a mug with your favourite veggies to create a microwave omelet or poke a few holes into a potato and get your sour cream ready for a quick and easy baked potato!
Struggling to balance life as a student? Check out this video about the 5 best apps to help you stay organized!
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