Her Campus Exeter finds that the main reason New Year’s Resolutions have often lapsed considerably by this point in January is that you asked too much of yourself. By making a couple of little changes, but sticking to these (it takes 21 days to make a habit people!) then it shouldn’t be too long before you can’t even remember what you were doing differently before. So, whilst it’s common practice to promise to consume healthier produce, exercise more, swear less, drink more water etc, Her Campus Exeter is going to look at how you might actually achieve some of your New Year Goals… Nothing too life-defining!
1) I resolve to… exercise more
Realistically, you ain’t going to be hitting the gym every day, but just a couple of small tweaks could lead to you to becoming way more active in 2014. Her Campus Exeter suggests either exercising at the beginning of the day whereby you don’t have to spend the rest of the day dreading the impending workout doom, but if this seems a little ambitious then just resolving to always take the stairs or to power walk home from campus, which will make all the difference.
2) I resolve to… eat healthily
The noble salad-y intentions you held whilst in a state of post-Christmas bloat may have passed, but healthy eating definitely doesn’t have to mean all or nothing. Nutritionists typically recommend an 80:20 rule, whereby you eat nutritionally beneficial foods 80% of the time and whatever you fancy for the other 20%, meaning the occasional TP burger does not have to be guilt inducing. However, if 80% sounds a little much, then other studies have found that making healthier choices for just half the week actually had a far more dramatic effect upon digestion and general wellbeing than has been previously predicted.
3) I resolve to… spend more time with family and friends
Apparently this is a pretty common resolution that slowly falls by the wayside as January progresses. Our house definitely felt that we saw far too much of the library and not enough of each other over the course of first term, and so have set aside one evening a week to go out for dinner; no excuses!
4) I resolve to… stop drinking
Dry January is a big ask. The thought of a sober Cheesy Tuesdays is enough to send shivers down many a spine, but it is definitely possible to think about if the amount you’re drinking is really necessary and then adjust accordingly. Maybe take an amount you know is reeee-asonably sensible to pre-drinks and stick to that or having one glass of water for every alcoholic drink works wonders both for controlling the amount of alcohol consumed on nights out and minimizing hangovers.
5) I resolve to… stop spending so much money
In early January you’re singing student finance’s praises whilst offering rounds of drinks to your housemates, but by the end of February you’re crying in the Market Place after your card is rejected for a meal deal… seriously, where does the dollar go in Exeter!? If you really want to stop spending so much money, the two things that Her Campus Exeter has found make the biggest difference are simply telling yourself that you won’t buy food up on campus, and only taking the amount of cash that sober-you is happy to spend on a night out. Not only can this tie into healthy eating, as a home prepped lunch is likely to be far more nutritious, but it could save up to £20 a week…
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