With yet a new semester upon us, college students are filled with new optimism and goals for the next few months. However, we have to admit for some of us not all of our goals are realistic. Let’s talk about what we tell ourselves now and what we will realize later.
“After going to bed after three in the morning and sleeping until noon for practically a month, I’ll definitely be able to wake up in time for an eight o’clock class in the morning!”
Okay, the reality is this is not how your body works. You need sleep. If you don’t plan for new sleep schedule, you’re going to either drag yourself to class like a zombie or sleep through your three alarms entirely.
“I’m going to be SO healthy this semester. I’m going to make a gym schedule and stick with it! I’ll eat salads, fruits, anything that’s good for me!”
Face it, in the limited free time you have in college you don’t always want to run (or walk) in place on a treadmill. The pros in the weight room are intimidating as eff, too. I always say I’m going to be healthy every single semester, but when it comes to eating better foods, I fail. I don’t even like salad, what was I thinking?! The only acceptable salad is one with too much dressing and fifty percent croutons. I’m giving up fries for carrot sticks? Nope, I’m done.
“I’m going to focus solely on school this semester. I have to cut down on social media/tv/etc.”
While it is a great and important goal, there’s going to be nights where you completely forget (or just ignore) your essay due the next day or the five chapters of reading to do. Rather, to scroll through twitter and watch Stranger Things for a second time.
“I want to go out more and meet new people!”
Do you? Do you really? No. You’re going to wish you were back in bed catching up on Worst Cooks in America, rather than in a crowded bar or party, rubbing shoulders with people you know you don’t like.
“I’m saving money this semester. I’ll only spend when I really need it.”
Sure you will. By the end of the first month back we’ll realize we spent almost half of our dining dollars already. Sadly I’ll have to cut down daily Dunkin’ runs… at least that’s what I’ll claim. Also, there comes a point in the semester when ordering delivery is too tempting to resist. That may be during midterms, after spring break, or right now.
Hopefully this time around we can say at least one of these wasn’t a lie at the end of the semester.