How to Make and Stick to your New Year’s Resolutions…The Right Way!

Happy New Year! Have you made a resolution for 2012? Have you broken it yet? Not to be Debbie Downer, but in my experience, resolutions that aren’t concrete, such as “I’m going to lose twenty pounds this year” or “I’m going to get all A’s” usually fail. That’s because it’s hard to stick to a goal without a plan. So, no matter what your resolution is, Her Campus UAB is going to help you do it, and do it right. 

1. Resolution: Saving money for grad school, that killer pair of heels, a tropical vacay, whatever

Old way: Cutting back by not eating or going out so much.
New way: Sign up or get the app for mint.com. It’s an awesome site that helps you enter your financial goals and stick to them with budgets and financial plans…all on your phone/ipad/computer! 

2. Resolution: Being single, “doing you”, meeting new people, or finding the right relationship

Old way: Eating ice cream in bed and wondering why you’re single.
New way: Doing something NEW. You’ll always meet the same people if you’re doing the same thing. Change up your routine by signing up for a class you wouldn’t usually take, like Business Law or Music. Get SCUBA certified, try new food, go rock climbing with Outdoor Pursuits, or go to a coffee shop by yourself. When you try new things, you learn things about yourself, which makes you more independent and interesting to others.

3. Resolution: Be more organized or get better grades.

Old way: Trying really hard…that is, until you get distracted by Facebook, Pintrest, and that funny YouTube video.
New way: Using your computer as a tool rather than a distraction. Go to this website next time you need to get organized: clockblocktm.com. It’s an online compliation of personalized “to do” lists that you can color coordinate, set the due date, and it’s importance. Actually remembering to meet with that internship coordinator or that your midterm is a week away take some of the pressure off you, and that’s always a good thing!

4. Resolution: Losing weight.

Old way: Cutting carbs, fat, chocolate, ice cream, and just about everything else out of your diet until you go postal and eat anything over 100 calories in your fridge. 
New way: The non-diet diet. Start with a non-weight oriented goal like “I’m going to try that new Zumba class at the rec” or “I’m going to drink 8 glasses of water a day”. Once those become everyday staples, you won’t even feel like you’re doing anything different, but you’ll be much healthier. 

5. Being nicer to people, volunteering more, etc.

Old way: Promising you’ll volunteer this weekend, but then you went out the night before and the idea of being stuck in a soup kitchen didn’t sound so fun the next day.
New way: Having fun while volunteering. Go play with the puppies at the shelter or go and color with kids at a nearby elementary school. Too lazy for that even? Collect the metal soda (or beer) can tabs and bring them to the Ronald McDonald House at 1700 4th Ave S. The tabs are collected, brought to recycling centers, and the recycling center then send RMHC a check based on the tab’s weight and value. It’s easy, and you’ll have good karma for the year.