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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

For many of us, the sound of horns blaring and people cheering as they celebrate bringing in the new year, is one that brings us hope. Hope for a better year than the previous one. Hope for the amazing adventures that await us. Hope that we will finally fulfill our New Year Resolutions!

Below are my seven resolutions for 2017!

1. EAT BETTER

Despite my unlimited meal plan and close proximity to Daly's Dining Hall, I have an unhealthy habit of not eating. I tend to take naps rather than go get food which isn't to say that I don't ever eat. I have a plethora of snacks throughout my dorm room that keep me alive. I think I ate more granola bars my last semester than I have in my entire life.

My goal this year is to eat more often as my body can only survive on one meal a day for so long. I also want to eat healthier. More salads, more vegetables, and less fast food. The only exception will be chocolate because it's a crime to not eat chocolate.

2. GET BETTER SLEEP

Anyone who knows me is inherently aware of my overwhelming tendency to take naps. Multiple naps. Daily. So how could I possibly need better sleep? I suffer from insomnia, which is an inability to sleep. I don't fall asleep until two or three in the morning which is only after succumbing from sheer exhaustion. Then, I consistently wake up all night leading to an extremely restless sleep. After a day of classes, I'm so tired that I decide to take a nap. And the cycle continues.

I want to start a melatonin regimen which will help promote a healthy sleep and wake cycle. I'm also going to limit myself to using less electronics when I lay down for bed. Hopefully, less stimulation will allow me to fall asleep quicker.

3. DRINK MORE WATER

According to Top 10 Home Remedies, drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day has many health benefits. The article mentions that the ten benefits of drinking water are that it relieves fatigue (haha, I need some relief), improves mood (awe, wouldn't my friends love that), treats headaches and migraines (puh-leaseee), helps in digestion and constipation, aids weight loss, flushes out toxins, regulates body temperature, promotes healthy skin (I mean, really.. who needs all this acne?), relieves hangovers, and beats bad breath.

There's really no reason to not want to drink more water.

4. MORE QUALITY TIME

My name is Skylin Riedweg and I am a Netflix addict. Over the last couple months, I've watched every episode of Friends, Criminal Minds, Young & Hungry, Baby Daddy, Quantico, and Grey's Anatomy. I'm also completely caught up with Teen Wolf, Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. If I start naming all the movies I've seen in the last couple months, we'll be here awhile.

This year I'd like to spend less time with my eyes glued to my computer or phone screen and instead experience things. This year I want to spend the free time I have with friends, visiting museums, going to concerts and live shows, eating out, and of course, writing for The Odyssey.

5. READ MORE

In high school, I read books. And I'm not talking about the boring ones forced upon us in English class. I read good books simply because they interested me. Over the last couple months, I have not read a physical book. Sure, I read fanfiction online but nothing compares to the comforting smell and sound of flipping through pages of a book.

My goal is to read at least one book a month in 2017.

6. VOLUNTEER MORE

With all the time I spend by myself, I think that I should spend some time giving back to others. With some of the free time I'll have from watching less Netflix, I plan on spending time volunteering on and off of campus. What I'll do, I have no idea yet. I'll keep you updated.

7. GET MY FIRST TATTOO

I've been wanting a tattoo for the last two years but have yet to figure out exactly what I want. I know I definitely want something that represents my siblings but have yet to figure out if I want their birth dates, initials, full names, symbols, or a mixture of the few.

My goal, however, is to figure it out and get my first tattoo before 2017 ends.

And that, ladies and gentleman, is my New Year Resolutions list for 2017. Let's hope I can follow through with it!