Much like registering for an 8 a.m. humanities class, resolutions always seem accomplishable and maybe even a good idea at their inception. From total lifestyle overhauls to extravagant bucket list items, it’s easy to bite off more than you can chew, especially when juggling the hectic academic and social regimen of a college student.
1. Be healthy. About as enjoyable as a juice cleanse and as sustainable as the 7-mile-per-hour pace you set on the treadmill, getting in shape is hard. Odds are you planned a dramatic hit-the-gym-every-day and eat-nothing-but-kale game plan for your 2016 fitness routine, and odds are you ended up on the couch with a jar of Nutella on the fourth episode of "Making a Murderer" instead. The pace of a college student’s demanding schedule and the availability of junk food in the cafeteria and grocery store make it easy to cop out. This is normally the pivotal point in the resolution cycle where you reassure yourself that February 1 is a much better time to reinvent yourself. But don’t beat yourself up. Being healthy is not an immediate-gratification activity.
Instead, start small. Resolve to take the stairs instead of the shuttle, switch your French fries for a salad once a week or try a new fitness class. The changes may take time, but you’ve got all year, right? Stick with the small stuff and you’ll be rocking a booty that would make J.Lo jealous in no time.
2. Save money. From a day pass to Disneyland to Chipotle for lunch to the new blazer that makes you look like you totally have your life together, spending money in college is ridiculously easy. And, as appealing as going cold turkey sounds, being a fiscal hermit not only makes you pine for the days of allowance but also gives you serious FOMO. And, let’s be honest, the second you walk into Target with your paycheck in your pocket, any “resolve” you might have is gone before you’re finished browsing the dollar section.
Instead, choose one area of your finances to cut back on. Make your own coffee instead of going to Starbucks, or start hosting movie nights instead of going out. Designate a little bit of every paycheck for a “fun fund” and put the rest in savings. Over time, you’ll accumulate enough to reward yourself without breaking the bank.
3. Worry less. Ha. This one is genuinely a joke, right? Between planning for next semester’s classes, figuring out internships and trying to make plans with your friends, spreading yourself too thin is a common resting state for most college students. While the concept of shirking all responsibility and adopting a go-with-the-flow attitude sounds appealing, it’s hardly realistic. Unfortunately, an on/off switch doesn’t regulate stress; it’s your natural reaction to the build up of events and opinions in your life, and often the more you try to moderate it, the more overwhelming it becomes.
Instead, resolve to a little you-time every week. Maybe it’s an episode-long Netflix break from studying or a walk around the track listening to your favorite Adele song on repeat. Start keeping a journal and devote five minutes every day to decompressing about the events in your life, good and bad.
In the fast-paced world of university living, dramatic resolutions can easily fall to the wayside as school, friends, and basic human functions (i.e., food, sleep, clothing, Netflix) take precedence. But remember, your resolutions are meant to create a fulfilling year, not just the first two weeks of January.
