"New Year, New Me" has long been an almost illusory phrase that everyone hears around this time of year, basically stating that a new year will signify one, big change; a better you. Since we're young, and most of what's on our mind that correlates with New Year's is drinking, partying, or dating related. Most of us have tried to change a big part of our lives, even trying to eat less when we also say that "food is life"
The only person I have ever known that set New Year's resolutions and actually stuck with them was a professor I had. He actually set his own personal record of having 15 years in a row of goals met. He achieved this by setting small goals, instead of impossibly big ones. Moreover, he also set preferable goals, not goals that you want but actually make you roll your eyes knowing you're already lying to yourself (again), such as "I'm not drinking this year." My professor instead set other goals, such as saving all of his loose change instead of dumping it out or spending it on soda machines, or getting on a better sleep schedule by going to bed earlier.
A new year should motivate you, not pressure you to change everything about yourself because that's what sets us back: suddenly over-anticipating what you should be. Below is a list of New Year's resolutions everyone should consider.
Save Money
Something most college students have trouble with is money. Those who are fortunate enough to not have to worry about money might still find themselves at a loss in terms of figuring out how to correctly handle money.
The least you can do is write down your spending habits because it might shock you how much you spend money on something that seems so insignificant. As hard as that is to face, we have to face it and know if it's damaging our lives too much. For those who feel as though they have their spending on good terms, make it a goal to save from that skill.
Appreciate Your Loved Ones More
Let's face it, this year has really put both our lives, and the celebrity world, into a different perspective. The moment I read that Debbie Reynolds died a day after Carrie Fisher, I immediately thought of how much my own mother and grandmother mean to me, feeling sorrow for Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd. As difficult as it is to get through all the losses of so many talented people who have all impacted us or been part of our childhood, the only thing we can do is learn from it. Make a goal to get along with your family and friends, and appreciate. Get off your phone when you're with your family, because they won't be there forever. Same goes for your friends, who you will have a limited amount of time to see after you enter the real world.
Be Kinder
Is it really so hard to just be a bit less selfish this year? Everyone always aims for common and never achieved goals to drink less or lose weight, but they don't try to lose what's actually holding them back in life, one of them sometimes being bad personality traits. You may even be judging people more than you realize, which is another setback. Make some goal to either talk to more people, not judge those by looks, or help others more often. Your life can change more than you realize if you accept more people into your life, and if you make yourself an even more acceptable person to those around you.
Any College related Goals
A good New Year's resolution is to give it your all towards school, because how many years do you really have left to do well in it? This doesn't just have to be in terms of studying harder, but can also apply to making more out of college. Join a club, try and make the Dean's list, or go out more. We always tell ourselves that we'll 'try harder next semester' or 'we'll go out more' but it doesn't usually happen when it's a minor thought that perpetuates. What we need to do is really try and promise such things to ourselves and stick with them.
New Year's resolutions shouldn't be about taking away things we enjoy, but rather adding to our lives in some way to make it better. College students especially should aim to set things straight, because we're at an overwhelming point in our lives, yet also at a point where our choices now largely determine our future. If we don't make these years really accommodate change now, we're going to have to make bad resolutions in our older years that we won't obtain. Not everyone needs to make a New Year's resolution, but if you are going to make one, at least make a better one than dieting, which will not usually make you happier. Everyone has been stating lately that 2017 should be a happier year, so try and make your life happier if anything because after 2016, most of us need to be happier.
