As the month of January is rapidly coming to an end, I can successfully say that 2018 has already had its ups and downs. It seems that this year, in particular, I made more New Years Resolutions than I have before, ranging from eating healthier and getting more sleep, to going to church more and being a kinder person to those around me. I was determined to make 2018 my best year yet.

Naturally, I am not significantly stronger quite yet, I am not a drastically more adventurous eater, and I am not much of a better friend than I was on December 31st. However, I have already developed a more focused and driven mindset for the year ahead of me and I look forward to whatever comes my way.

I think that the best way to improve yourself in the New Year, is to be mindful that you are human and that things do not always go as planned. While it is beneficial to try and stick to the goals you originally made for yourself, it is also equally as beneficial to develop new resolutions that come up in your life throughout the year as well. Be resilient and determined to accomplish what you set your mind to, but also be kind to yourself and remember that you are almost always doing perfectly okay.

To begin, I moved back to school on January 8th. This meant I had about a week at home of resting and spending time with friends and family before it was time to jump back into the swing of things. However, unfortunately the day I moved back to school I actually got very sick which put nearly every one of my New Years resolutions on complete hold.

At first the doctors thought it was food poisoning, but after days of not getting better, it was quickly determined that I had a pretty bad ear infection and a good old case of the flu. While this may sound like the absolute worst thing ever (it definitely wasn't fun I can assure you that), I am eternally blessed with the most caring and supportive roommates and parents which made the sickness go away even faster. With that being said, my supposed New Years diet turned quickly into saltines, toast, and an occasional applesauce for about a week.

Following up on the whole eating resolution with the flu, fortunately sleeping became a top priority and I actually got into a bit of a routine of going to bed early and waking up early. Aside from when I am sick, I tend to try and cram as many things into my day as physically possible, whether it be homework, professor's office hours, laundry, cleaning or making time for my friends. Therefore, putting sleep at the very bottom of my priority list Being sick made me realize how truly important it is to take care of yourself and sleeping is a big part of this.

Both sleeping more and eating healthier were resolutions that I set for myself prior to the New Year and are two that I hope to stick with. However, as January has progressed, I have also set a goal for myself to make a checklist almost every day and get as many (or even just a few) things done aside from homework. For example, every day at the top of my list is making my bed. It may seem small, but when I am able to check this off my list, it helps me to get motivated and try and get more tasks done! Some days I am able to do my laundry, clean our common room, meet with a new friend in my sorority for lunch, or make notecards for an upcoming exam. By doing these small tasks, it helps me to feel accomplished and successful.

It is my hope that in 2018, I will not only be able to stick to the goals that I have already set for myself but establish new and practical ones throughout the year! I encourage you to do the same.