I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have moments during winter break where I found myself thinking mid-pizza slice that I should probably try to eat healthier. Of course, that thought lasted only until I remembered how good stuffed crust was, but still, I think most people have been there. That’s where the magical New Year’s resolutions come in. The start of a new year is the perfect time—and excuse—for people to start to try to change something about their lives. People are full of hope and determination, which is awesome and actually really endearing. Sticking to these resolutions, however, can be tricky. So, here are five very common New Year’s resolutions and some tips on how to keep them. #newyearnewme, right?
1. Working out.
The stereotype is that university students aren’t generally the healthiest group of people, but living a healthier lifestyle is a great way to feel better about yourself inside and out. If you lack motivation, try to get a few friends to go to the gym with you. It’ll be less intimidating and you might even have fun. If you have no idea what you’re doing, ask someone—we all have that person on Instagram who gyms five times a week and eats totally clean—or even go see a personal trainer. The SFU fitness center offers one-on-one partner training for relatively affordable prices to get you started or simply to change up your workout routine. Even if you aren’t looking to spend money, they offer free consultations to introduce you to basic exercises and to help you reach your fitness goals!
2. Making new friends.
SFU isn’t exactly the easiest place to meet new people, and unless you’re a particularly talkative and social person, talking to people in general makes a lot of college students—myself included—quite nervous. Joining a club may seem intimidating, but it’s a really easy way to meet people with similar interests, plus it will look awesome on your resume. Or, if sports are more your thing, join an SFU intramural team or go to the drop-in sports times in the gym. But, if you’re too busy for all that and need to make money, you can apply for jobs on campus! It’s a great way to meet other students, while still earning money for school.
3. Saving money.
Let’s face it. Most of us are poor. We pay thousands of dollars in tuition, hundreds on books, and that doesn’t even include other expenses some of us have to pay like gas, rent, and food. Here are some ways to cut back on expenses: if you don’t do so already, be on the lookout for used textbooks online and even try to sell some of your old ones; if you’re a coffee drinker, invest in a travel mug and limit yourself on the amount of coffee you buy. (For the cost of four lattes, you can get a 1lb bag of Starbucks coffee that makes about 40 cups from home); if alcohol is what you’re spending all your money on, try to cut back the trips you make to the bar. Set aside a little bit of money each paycheck, and when you do go out, make sure you’re on the lookout for the daily drink specials.
4. Getting better grades.
Aside from all the other fun aspects of school, getting an education is supposed to be the main goal at SFU. I know it sucks, but honestly, the best way to get your marks up is simple: go to class. Go to lecture and go to tutorials and actually pay attention. I find that the classes I force myself to go to are the ones I excel at, and the ones I sleep through, I find troubling. The SFU Student Learning Commons also has some great tips for combatting procrastination and planning study schedules. They also have tons of great workshops and one-on-one consultations to help with academic writing. You pay for it in your fees, so you might as well take advantage of it!
5. Carpe Diem.
Seizing the day is something that I think a lot of people don’t really focus on when they really should. Life gets busy and we get wrapped up with worrying about school and work, so we forget that life is so much more than that. If you want to be more adventurous, go out exploring on a hike! If you have a crush on that cute boy in your class, sit next to him! So much of our lives will be wasted away at work, that I think it’s so important for us now, while we’re still young, to experience new things and see what each day has to offer us. Yes, we are students and, yes, some of us have to work as well, but that doesn’t mean we can’t stop to smell the roses every once in a while. Enjoy the journey of your university years and don’t be so anxious to graduate.