Every year you always come across those people who make a Facebook status or tweet, “New Year, new me!” Those people usually set goals and challenges to tackle during the New Year, and sometimes those goals and challenges last usually only that first month when they’re all really determined.
Those goals can be a change in exercise routines, diets, spending habits, relationships, time management, effort exerted in school or the workplace and the list goes on.
I gave up setting goals long ago. I firmly believe that a person doesn’t need to wait until the New Year to change him or herself for the better. If you see something in your life that you are not happy with, then start that day to try and fix it. Why wait a whole year, a few months, or a couple days to start? That my friend is the very first way you can change yourself for the New Year.
But for those who enjoy setting goals, let’s get into depth on some of these topics.
The first goal I’d like to get right into is dieting/changing eating habits. I, for one, am extremely guilty in giving in to those unhealthy snacks late at night while enjoying my favorite TV shows on Netflix.
I’m not going to deny it, I like to eat… Scratch that. I love to eat. Who doesn’t? But one thing I’ve changed is my eating habits late at night. No more bags of chips, or handfuls of pretzel M&M’s. If I really want a snack, I’ll have a tablespoon of peanut butter with two chocolate chips in it or a string cheese. Extremely smaller portions that might not be as satisfying, but it’s still something. Or you can just completely quit cold turkey and leave the late night snacking behind you.
As for the dieters reading this who claim they’re not going to eat any more carbs or chocolate, along with avoiding alcoholic beverages, and fully commit to juice cleanses and working out everyday of your live, that is not that way to go either.
Carbs help fill you up. Chocolate releases serotonin and dopamine, which makes the body feel happy. Red wine releases antioxidants that help the blood pump.
Juices… honestly, there really is no upside to juice cleanses. They never make you feel full and you want to eat everything in sight because of it. So I suggest ditching the juice cleanses, exercising at least three days a week for an hour (this literally can mean walking on a treadmill for an hour at an incline of 8), and eating all your favorite foods in moderation.
Whatever you do, don’t eliminate those wonderful guilty pleasures from your life… Just make sure to not over indulge and you’ll be golden.
A second favorite goal I often hear people go on and on about is bettering their time management skills. This one makes me laugh, because I feel like if you’re really unorganized, it's really hard to get out of that habit.
Organization is super, super important, especially in college and the workplace. There are deadlines for everything. If you don’t meet a deadline in a class in college, there’s a huge shot you’ll receive zero points (which could be extremely detrimental if you have a minimal amount of handed in assignments). If you don’t meet a deadline in the workplace, you’ll have a manager or higher authority extremely irritated.
I’ve seen those who try to fix this time management issue often fail, because it’s hard to get into the swing of things and consistently follow through. I for one am extremely on top of my homework, projects and anything else that includes a deadline.
"What? A college student organized? And on top of her assignments? No, it can't be true."
Well my fellow readers, yes it is true. I've always been one to be on top of everything and never wait until the last minute, because I stress out and panic. Don't worry, I'll share some of my secrets with you.
Since I’m a college student and I'm predicting most of readers are college students, my first tip would be to print out the homework assignment sheet for each of your classes and keep them on your desk. Check those sheets every day, because those are your lifesavers…seriously. Without them, I’d be lost, because unlike high school, professors rarely remind you of when you have homework and when it’s due.
Secondly, start working on the assignment the day it’s assigned. When it comes to important projects in a class, professors will usually take a couple minutes out of the class time to discuss the assignment and what’s expected. Go home that day and start brainstorming — whether it’s creating an outline, or just starting up the research, it’ll be really beneficial in the long run. Gathering all the information needed early on will help relieve stress if you end up taking a few days or a week off before actually starting the assignment (I have a research paper in mind while I'm explaining this. Following this tip makes writing the actual paper a heck of a lot simpler).
Thirdly, when it comes to exams, don’t wait until the day of the test to study. If you know you have an exam two weeks from now (which you will already know because of the syllabus that you have placed on your desk), I suggest gathering all your notes, making flashcards, rereading chapters and going to your professor for clarification on information you don’t understand. By that point, you know you’ll be well prepared for when exam day comes.
As for the workplace, I don't have much experience, but following my tips and adding on a twist to fit your situation will most likely work just as well.
I think overall the most important thing for people to remember is to not set unrealistic goals. Set goals that will fit with your schedule, allow you to eat normally, and still enjoy lazy nights at home with a good show on Netflix to watch. Be inspired to challenge yourself, but remember not to push yourself too hard!
