Collegiettes, the New Year is quickly approaching us, and while we are just getting out of school, out of our college routine and looking forward to endless home cooking, hometown shenanigans and cuddles with our pets, there is plenty of room to improve upon for next year. We’re all aware of the typical New Year’s Resolutions; we’ll go to the gym more, we’ll give up Cookout trays and Taco Bell trips (except when we’re suffering from the drunken munchies), and we will not wear leggings every day. Well here are some resolutions that you should take into consideration to make 2015 the best year.
1. Try a new workout class. This could be a fun alternative to just hitting the treadmill every day. Not only does that get boring, but you don’t use all your muscles and your body will get used to the same workout and little progress will be made. There are great UREC Fitness classes for free at the SRC, Mt. Mitchell and Quinn fitness centers on campus. Try going to Pilates, Zumba, Belly Dancing, HIIT 45, 20-20-20 and all the other classes offered to mix up your workout.
2. Take time to read. Grab a book that looks interesting off the library bookshelf and see where it takes you. Look up a list of books that are coming out in 2015 that are predicted to be a good read and keep an eye out for them at your local bookstore. Reading something daily has many benefits and allows you to escape from the real world for a little while.
3. Find a cause you believe in. All too often it seems that we are afraid of what others will think about our opinions, so we don’t take the initiative so speak up and be proactive. We share articles on Facebook about a view we agree or disagree with, but rarely state our own opinions. There are many clubs on campus that can feed your belief in a cause, such as ending rape culture in college, advocating for children with special needs, helping the local community, and many more. Find what you are passionate about and make it known!
4. Volunteer. Living on a college campus in a college town, we tend to forget what’s going on around us. There is poverty everywhere, with citizens and animals in need of help. Organizations like the Hospitality House and Humane Society are always looking for volunteers to help them help those in the community. Volunteering can really put in perspective how lucky (or hashtag blessed) you are, and reminds you to give thanks for the little things in life that are taken for granted. Also, you can look into going on an Alternative Spring Break trip with the school! You have the chance to volunteer with animals, kids, the elderly in the US and abroad… check it out!
5. Take up a new hobby. At our age, we often forget to do things we really enjoy doing (outside of partying and binge watching Netflix). Our creative side can still bloom if we nurture it enough. If you remember painting and drawing a lot as a kid or in high school, try taking that up again and go get yourself all new supplies. Do you have an insane amount of scarves? Why not try knitting some scarves, socks, coffee tumbler warmers… possibilities are endless with a pair of needles and yarn.
6. Call your family more. We all know how busy college life can be, but your family does miss you. They’re curious about what you’re doing and don’t want to wait for you to post on Facebook about current life events. Don’t call your family just for money, or to see what the plans for the holidays are. It does good to take time to talk to those you don’t see often; otherwise you miss out on a lot that’s going on in everyone else’s life.
7. Take time to see your friends. While you may go to the same college and see each other when you go out on the weekends or if you’re pulling all-nighters in the library, often friends lose touch easily. Make time to get lunch and make it a weekly thing, or make sure you go do something together or as a small group once a month. You don’t want to lose touch with the people that are always around you. Also make time to talk to your out of town friends on the phone more, or plan trips to see each other! You don’t want the only time you see each other to be when you’re home from school.
8. Leave your phone at home. We spend way too much time in front of technology these days, and it’s understandable since it helps us to easily access everything we think we need. When you go on a hike, sure it’ll be nice to post a photo of the hike, but chances are you’ve done that hike a ton of times. Leave your phone in the car and really enjoy what’s going on around you. When you’re going out to eat with friends, put it away and engage in conversation so you’re not all just on your phones and not speaking much. Life happens while you’re looking down at that screen.
New beginnings make us want to change. Be proactive with that change, make a goal and see it through to the very end! Reward yourself when you reach it, or find the reward simply in feeling better about yourself, reaching your goals, finishing a project, etc! If there is something you want to do, be brave and go for it. Get that tattoo, speak up about something you care about, tell someone how you feel, travel. The New Year holds many possibilities for a new perspective on life and on yourself!
Images:
http://appalachianmagazine.org/stories/id/387
http://www.econlife.com/36818/
http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article2043550.ece/alternates/s2197/Woman-reading-a-book-on-sofa.jpg
https://michelleamorgan.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/friends_hanging_out_by_a_pool_pe0047544.jpg