Somehow, we’ve gotten to the middle of February. While New Year’s resolutions were all made over a month ago, it’s still a good time to really crack down and make some goals to stick to until the end of the year. As freshman in college, we’re faced with a lot of challenges. Our world consists of frat parties, getting adjusted to a new school schedule, and living off of dining hall food. Here are a few resolutions that all freshman can strive to stick to (even in February):
1. Go to the gym
Ah, the most sought after resolution. This resolution isn’t as hard as one may think it is with the Rec in the center of campus. Start small, planning on going to the gym one to two times a week. Set aside small rewards for yourself after completing the first few weeks of working out. It takes three weeks for something to become a habit, so by setting aside one hour Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon you could see major changes by the end of 2016. If you haven’t made this a habit, don’t feel bad. It’s never too late to start.
2. Get organized
College students need organization in their lives; otherwise life can become a chaotic bundle of confusion. A simple way to start this resolution is make your bed and put away all your clothes lying around each morning. That little bit of effort can go a long way and help you feel like your room is a little neater to come home to. Purchase a daily planner to write all homework assignments and important dates in. Dedicate one day a week to cleaning out one part of your room. Clear off your desk and organize binders, clean out your desk drawers, or organize your closet.
3. Make time for family and friends
Living on a college campus gives us unlimited opportunities to spend time with friends. Talk to your friends and schedule one meal that you all have together, whether at a dining hall, restaurant, or apartment. Have the meal be technology free, giving everyone the chance to sit down and really talk to one another. Grab a friend and go to the gym together, or head to the library to study and do homework. Try to set aside time to call home and talk to your parents and siblings at least once a week. They will want to hear about how you’re doing at college, and hearing their voices is always great.
4. Eat healthier
Opt for making healthier choices each time you go. For example, instead of a cheeseburger and fries, get a grilled chicken sandwich and grab some fresh fruit to go with it. Head to the sandwich lines to get a sandwich with whole wheat bread and olive oil as the dressing instead of a fattening mayo. The salad bars at the dining halls are very good and with all the toppings available, you can mix it up each day! Store healthy snacks in your room like pita and hummus, peanut butter, popcorn from brands like Skinny Pop. Remind yourself that just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean you are throwing away the chance to eat good food ever again. Also, everyone has his or her cheat days. Make sure to remember that one day of unhealthy food won’t affect you just as much as only one day of healthy food will.
5. Aim to get better grades
For some people, obtaining this resolution could be as simple as going to class. If going to class isn’t an issue, then the lack of studying could be. Studying just two days before a test isn’t enough time to let all the information truly sink in. Give yourself at least a week and half to study, even for two hours or less a day. The more time you give yourself to study and understand the information you are reading about, the easier the test will be for you.
6. Be less stressed
Freshman year is a stressful time for everyone. There’s a lot happening during your time at college and sometimes it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Surround yourself with friends who can be a support system for you when you need one. The counseling center on campus has wonderful resources for anyone who needs just someone to talk to about everything. Take yoga classes at the Rec to help relax and wind down after a stressful day. Purchase an adult coloring book or paint to help you calm down if an artistic approach works for you. Try simple medication each day before bed, or take a long steamy shower to help you get ready for bed.
7. Save more money
Being a broke college kid is a reality that many of us know all too well. College can add up quickly especially if you are paying for any part of it yourself. A self-explanatory way to achieve this resolution is to just simply spend less. Find cheaper textbooks online through websites such as Chegg or Amazon to save a few hundred dollars on expensive textbooks. Instead of eating out, go to the dining hall to get food that you already have paid for. Take advantage of the fresh fruit there by taking a few on your way out to store in your room when you get hungry. Take advantage of the free resources you have on campus.
8. Drink less
At college, there seems to be an endless supply of alcohol around for everyone to consume, and it can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. When going out with friends, offer to be the designated driver so when even presented with an opportunity to drink you have to say no. Instead of going out to frat parties with your friends stay in for the night playing games like Cards Against Humanity. You’ll most likely have a lot more fun, and you get to spend time with your friends where you can actually hear them and aren’t in a hot dirty basement. If you spend less time drinking, you’ll spend less money on alcohol too, saving you lots of money in the long run. Going out on the weekdays can lead you to not going to class the next day, pulling you down a slippery slope to missing more and more classes as well.
9. Find a place to study
When it comes time to study, often times we find ourselves doing it all in our bed, which leads to us napping. Find places around campus to study that will help increase productivity. Have your desk be organized and clean to help you want to sit down and study, find a place in the library to focus, or places in the student center or memorial union.
10. Come to class prepared
While getting to class is a feat to celebrate, also try to come to class prepared. Do the required readings for each class before class that day. Have paper to write on, and something to write with. Bring your laptop if you take notes better on a laptop versus in a notebook. Have a water bottle with you throughout the day so you aren’t tempted to walk out of class and get water from the fountain.