Whether it's the start of a new year, a new semester, or just a new day, people are always setting goals for themselves that they strive to achieve. These can be things you want to accomplish by the end of the day, week, month, year or even a couple of years down the road. Sometimes the goals we set are easy to achieve or they can be completely unrealistic; most of the time, no matter which end of the spectrum you're on, you can get caught up in everything else going on that you forget about your goals. But when you put your mind to something that you really want to accomplish, you become a better you inside and out. So here are 10 realistic goals that you can set this upcoming fall semester.
1. Work out on a regular basis
This is a common goal that often gets pushed aside. But don't think of working out as running five miles a day, lifting weights for hours, and squatting until you can't walk. Anything from doing sets of crunches and lunges in your living room to just walking or going for a light jog for 30 minutes on a regular basis will make you feel better physically and mentally.
2. Change your diet (for the better)
Another common goal that is often pushed aside at the first sight of a pizza or doughnut (100 percent guilty of this). Although it may seem hard to resist those temptations, changing your diet is not as hard as it sounds. Start of small by limiting the intake of one of your guilty pleasures. Eat more fruit, less processed sugars, and just be more conscious of your daily food decisions. Its something so simple that can boost your energy and your confidence.
3. Get the right amount of sleep
We all hated nap time when we were younger and now when were running around trying to manage seven different things at once, we would kill to just be able to make everything stop and go to sleep. While naps are helpful, you often wake up feeling more tired than you were before and find yourself unable to fall asleep until 3 a.m. So start off this semester by setting a sleeping schedule. I know it sounds unrealistic with all that "studying" you're doing, but in the long run you and your body will thank you.
4. Drink more water
Unless you are already conscious of it you are probably not drinking nearly enough water as you need to be. Its recommended that you drink eight glasses of water per day. It's so easy to just buy a reusable water bottle and fill it up. You're doing the environment a favor by not throwing out plastic bottles and you're doing your body a favor by keeping yourself hydrated. And it's easy.
5. Make your academics more of a priority
You might be thinking 'I already do this' but there is always room for improvement. Even if you're getting A's and B's and that was your goal, change it up a little bit. Like those 150 pages of pre-historic history you "read?" Dig a little deeper, read instead of skimming, take more notes, study the week before a test and not the night before and you will see improvement.
6. Stop procrastinating
It's hard. I am the first to admit I am the worst at doing things in a timely manner, so this is definitely something I'll be working on. Make yourself a little schedule or set reminder on your phone about assignments and other tasks you have to get done. When you stop procrastinating you feel less stress and you probably accomplish the task better than if you put it off (like that paper that is due at 11:59 p.m. that you started at 11 p.m.).
7. Read more
Yes there is something called "reading for fun." Lets be honest, it is a rarity that you read something for a class that you are genuinely interested in (unless it's a major class, but even then). So take a breather from that 2,000 page textbook and pick up a book or magazine that you actually have interest in.
8. Limit your social media use
We're all guilty of spending a little too much time on our phones scrolling through Twitter and liking Instagram posts. And while our generation is accused of being too dependent on social media and our phones, the older generations are still guilty of being on their devices. Make a pact to not be on your phone when you're out to dinner with your friends or even just having a conversation with someone. Pick up your head, lock your phone, put it in your pocket and just enjoy what is around you.
9. Learn a useful life skill
You're probably thinking 'OK whatever, skip this one,' but don't. There are so many different things that fit into this goal. Learn something that could help you land a killer internship next summer. You may think you know things like Excel and Photoshop, but actually dig deeper and learn the hidden gems to these programs and really blow away the competition. Learn to be a better public speaker, how to change your oil, how to cook a variety of meals. The opportunities are endless here.
10. Spend more time with the people you love doing the things that you love
This to me is the most important. Stop doing things you don't enjoy and stop hanging around people that you don't like. There is only so much time we get and you should spend it doing what you enjoy most, even if its having a movie night with your best friends and eating ice cream (it's OK, you can skip one day of eating healthier). Doing things that you love with people you love makes you feel better. And when you feel better, you do better.
