It’s that time of year, let planning for the new school year begin.

Six weeks have passed since finals period ended, and in seven weeks we'll be crowding Cornell's campus for O-week. Smack dab in the middle of summer, this point of the season feels similar to the unsettling days between Christmas and New Year’s. The enthusiasm from one occasion is fading, and the restlessness for the upcoming year is settling in. I can’t speak for all of us, but I have gotten to see my friends from home, I have spent ample time with my family, and now, I’m ready to go back. To relieve my anxiousness, I have found myself making resolutions for the new school year. I’ve evaluated my wins and my losses from last year (+2 points for only locking myself out once, -8 for all of the Nasties trips), and I’m determining ways to make my sophomore year phenomenal.

Most of us are heading into the next school year with a list of goals. Getting better grades, going to the gym, getting more sleep (Uh, do you know where you go to school?). But we all know that New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep, whether it be for a new calendar year or a new school year. I can’t just assume that just because my living situation will be different (dorm life to sorority living, yay!), I will be different.

It’s easy to envision yourself conquering the world while you’re away from school sitting in front of your laptop, but turning these fantasies into a reality is going to take effort. However, since it is still summer, don’t worry yet about those early morning runs or the inevitable all-nighters you'll be suffering through. Spend the time that you have left of vacation to keep your mind on the right track so that you’ll still be motivated to make things happen in the fall. We have eight weeks until classes start, but there are measures that we can take in the meanwhile to give our brains a makeover.

1.     Talk about yourself.

       If avoiding your goal is something you may be inclined to do, counteract the procrastination by sharing your plans with others. The more you say you’ll do something, the more obligated you'll feel to actually do it. Start by talking about your goals and the steps you’ll take to reach them with the people around you now. Over time, it will become easier to visualize yourself performing these actions. Carry on the habit when you get back to school. That way, if you neglect to do what you planned, people will ask you what happened, and your excuses won’t sound as good out loud as they do in your head. Also, you might even inspire others with similar goals to work with you! Making the trek out to the gym every day will be a lot easier if you have a friend to go with you. Let others know about your goals, and you’ll be automatically held accountable for whatever you choose to do.

2.      Stalk people.
         Determine what qualities and habits you need that will help you reach your goal, then seek people out who you know to have these characteristics. Write their names down alongside a memory you have of them that connects them to these qualities. Remember that girl in your freshman dorm who was part of three clubs, had a job, and was still super dedicated to her studies and never fell behind? Or how about your next door neighbor who always eats healthy and never ever binges on mozzarella sticks at 2am? Emulate these people. Memorize their habits. How did they find the time to do what they’re doing? What resources did they have? What was their schedule like? If the person you chose is a celebrity, you're in luck, because you have Google on your side. Study the person’s life, figure out what made them aspire to be what they are, and use these things to establish your own source of motivation.

3.      Listen to music.
           I’m serious. I want you to sit down on your nearest flat surface, put on your headphones, and turn on your best songs. These should be songs that make you feel inspired, like you’re capable of anything. My personal favorites are Beyoncé’s Run the World (Girls), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ Can’t Hold  Us, Work by Britney Spears, and Work by Iggy Azalea (Honestly, what could be a better song to get your mind on work than a song with the word “work” in its title?). Songs like these will allow you to see yourself actually doing the hard work that goes into reaching your goal and will also remind you of how good you’ll feel afterwards. Use these songs to motivate you and remind you of your potential. If you believe that you can conquer the world, you will. Listen to this music until it feels like Katy Perry wrote Roar about you.

It’s time to make the magic happen. Get pumped.