Summer resolutions are very much like New Year’s resolutions. However, unlike the beginning of the year that follows with only a couple of days of freedom before school, summer is a three month period full of possibilities. I am always trying to better myself, looking at who I am and working towards who I want to be. When a certain time in my life ends, I feel a sense of hope because I have the chance to start a new journey by setting new goals and redesigning my daily routines. So every beginning of summer, semester or New Year’s Eve, I sit down and evaluate what I want to work on in order to achieve my goals. The thing is, that the plan doesn't always last. Resolutions are the promises that we make to ourselves to be better in order to meet certain expectations. Whether you want to be better for yourself or for external reasons, we are always moving towards what we feel should be our next step in life.
Realizing that I had lost track of all my New Year’s resolutions, I paced myself and noticed that maybe my goals weren't very realistic. Although most of them were simple, like managing my time, eating healthier and reading more, it is hard to reformat your lifestyle all at once. So this summer, I am being more realistic about time managing my resolutions and I am going easier on myself by solving one problem at a time. It all starts by deciding that you want to take control of your life, but also understanding that everything won’t work out exactly how you planned it. You will lose track of your goals and doubt whether binge watching The Office and shamelessly eating a whole pint of ice cream is worth it. That is okay!
The good thing about summer is that whether you are working to earn money, studying to get ahead in school or just relaxing at home, you decide how you are going to spend your time. Unlike the school year, in which we are bombarded by homework and barely have any time to stop and look around at how we are spending our days, summer allows you to structure your routine from scratch. As soon as I let go of the obsession I had with overcoming my bad habits, it was easier to work on each one at a time. Start by setting small goals. Understand that you are on vacation so it is okay to go off track sometimes. Most importantly, remind yourself daily of what it is that you want and let this be the fuel that leads you to make a change. Even if your goal is to finish every movie on Netflix or to take 12 credits, do whatever it takes to feel accomplished at the end of summer in order to go into the new school year confidently. In three months we’ll start a new school year, with tougher teachers, more homework, and important responsibilities, so for now, we have time to focus on being the best version of ourselves in order to face the next step with grace.
