As 2016 comes to an end, we are all looking forward to 2017 and hoping to make it our best year yet. Most of us will likely make the same New Year's resolutions that we have been making every year. We want to lose weight, get better grades, have better relationships, etc. However, by about the third week of the Spring semester, we are back to our same old routines. So, I would like to propose a few resolutions that may actually be useful and practical for the modern college student.
1. Eat less fast food/junk food
For most of us, time and money are pretty scarce, and our meal choices reflect that. This year, try learning a few quick and easy meals you can make in your dorm or apartment. Your stomach will thank you.
2. Keep a working planner
If you don't already use a daily planner, buy one and keep it updated with due dates, tests, appointments, and activities. This is the easiest and most efficient way to get your life organized. If you know exactly what you need to do every day, it will be much easier to get things done and not have to rush or stress at the last minute.
3. Join a new club or group
Being involved in organizations and clubs on campus is a great way to make friends, boost your resume, and get community service opportunities. If you aren't already a member of any groups, use this new year as a chance to join one and explore your interests.
4. Find an exercise you don't hate
Most of us probably don't get as much exercise as we should. That's partly because it isn't always fun. To help make it more bearable, find something that you have fun doing. I, for one, hate running, but I love yoga. You may love tennis, pilates, or kickboxing. Find what works for you and stick to it.
5. Don't be so hard on yourself
Maybe you made a C on a test that you really wanted an A on. Maybe someone turned you down. Maybe you locked yourself out of your room (again). Life is hard, and everyone screws up sometimes. Try to learn from your mistakes and move on rather than beating yourself up over it.
6. Read your textbooks
That $300 required calculus textbook is a serious investment, but most of the time, we let it sit on our bookshelf all semester and never open it. This year, read the chapters that go along with your lectures. Better yet, read the chapter before class, and you will understand the lectures much better. This is an easy way to really improve your grades.
7. Do things you've been scared to do
Take that upper-level class you think would be interesting, even if you're scared it will be hard. Talk to that person you've had a crush on since Freshman year. Get the haircut you keep pinning on Pinterest, and stop telling yourself that you can't pull it off. Take risks. Life is too short not to.
8. Take charge of your future
While college is a time of new experiences and fun, it is primarily the time in which you set yourself up for your future career. If you are a freshman, use this year to explore new majors and see what inspires you. Sophomores and juniors can aspire to keep up their GPA's, make connections, and make graduate school decisions. Seniors need to focus on applying for jobs or graduate programs that will put them on the path they desire. Regardless of what your plan is, use this year to put yourself in a position to succeed.
9. Look on the bright side of everything
If 2016 wasn't quite your year, look forward to creating a better 2017. Rather than accepting what you don't like about your life, work to fix those things. Keep your chin up, books open, and coffee cups filled, because this year of college could be your best yet.
