Every year we have a few goals in mind, some are realistic while some just aren't. You can only try to change so much before you go back to old habits. Here are some New Year's Resolution that I have found to be really unattainable in the long run.
1. Hit the gym.
We all make this promise to ourselves: go to the gym more. And by the time summer comes around you should have washboard abs and a killer body. Buuuut, school starts soon, you have to buy some supplies, need to catch up with friends, stay late at work- the excuses keep piling up and by the time the semester is over you realize you can count on one hand the number of times you’ve gone to the gym. It's happened to the best of us and it's so hard to avoid that cycle.
The solution? Set a better schedule. Even if it's only once a week for 30 minutes, you’re still being healthy and active. Rome wasn't built in a day and you won’t create great habits overnight. Just stick with it and you’ll be surprised at what you can achieve.
2. Procrastinate less.
This one starts off the easiest but will have you questioning your will-power after a few weeks. Getting work done on time is a great thing, but binge watching Parks&Rec might be slightly more interesting. When you do your work early you realize you have so much more free time than if you had procrastinated, and it feels great. But ever so slowly you will start getting lazier, pushing back your assignments as far as possible, and eventually you will cave into the pleasure receptors of your brain; watching two hours of Netflix right now is better than watching four hours of it later for some odd reason.
The solution? Yet again, it’s scheduling. Making a plan and sticking to it. Turn your phone on silent and turn your TV off. Don't allow yourself to get distracted on purpose.
3. Study more.
This is the resolution everyone is most likely to make and break. You will start off so well. Nights are spent studying hard for the first easy test or two, and then you feel like the smartest person in the world after those first few A’s. Your ego has been tickled. Soon you will start studying less and less and before you know it, you’re getting C’s and D’s. The tests get harder and you’ve been trying less and less. This is the perfect storm.
The solution? Time management and perseverance. Studying is not fun and it's hard to make time for it, but find it. There will be days where you’re struggling and feel the need to pull your hair out, but that is the struggle before the success.
4. Talk to that one guy/girl.
Maybe you share a class or two, maybe you both wait in line at Starbucks every morning, maybe you're in the same club or team. You know if you just talked to them that you would hit it off. Doing so could change both of your lives forever! So what are you waiting for? Well, it's really scary and the pressure is so intense. You don't want to be weird but you also don't want to miss what could’ve been. If this is your resolution I truly sympathize with you because you will be struggling with an internal conflict for months.
The solution? I’ve got nothing. You talk to them or you don't. But please do. You’re in college, the mistakes you make are learning experiences and this is one of those learning experiences.Who else has these same exact resolutions every year only to forget about them by February? It's not entirely your fault, everyone does it and it's so hard to keep those promises. Just do yourself a favor this year and try a little harder. Make that commitment and enjoy the rewards that come with it. I'll be cheering for you. Happy New Year's!
