As February winds down, I’m checking in on the New Year’s resolutions I wrote back in January. While not all of them have been completed yet, there are a few that have been going well – even while at school. It’s been almost two months and I’ve been able to keep up with all of these – maybe you can too! So, here are six of my resolutions that are easy for anyone to keep while on campus:
1. Read more books
I’ve always loved to read for pleasure, but have read barely any books since I’ve been in school. I’m always too busy to pick up a book for fun, and reading so much class material during the semester burns me out during breaks. This year, I finally decided to get back on the horse and have already finished three books – and soon to be four. I found that if I manage my time and don’t procrastinate, then it’s not too hard to squeeze in some time for reading – and I’m glad that I’m getting back to something I enjoy. If you try this, it’s an easy resolution to keep even if you’re busy with classes.
2. Wake up earlier
This is a massive challenge for me, but I’ve been trying my best before the real world starts and I wind up being late for work. There’s no better time to work on this than now; the extra hours in the morning help me get so much work done, and I can actually make breakfast instead of grabbing something quick (which tends to be more unhealthy and gets expensive). This is easy for anyone to try at school, even if it’s simply waking up ten minutes earlier every day or deciding not to lounge in bed for too long.
3. Learn a new skill
It’s probably easier to accomplish this while in college than in the post-grad world; we’re here to learn, after all. There are always different ways and resources available to learn new skills, and on campus, there may even be for-credit classes available. For example, I want to learn Photoshop this year, and Comm 297 is for just that. There are classes for drawing and creative writing, groups for knitting and photography, and everything in between. You won’t have to look far at Penn State if you want to try something new.
4. Be more active
As someone who hates working out, I’ve never been able to keep the typical resolutions to exercise more and eat healthier. Even if I try, it never lasts. That’s why for 2018, I adjusted my New Year’s resolution to “be more active,” which is finally the one that clicked. This can mean exercising more (which I’m working on), but it also allows me to interpret it differently every day and put in small efforts that can add up to a big difference. Little things like making the uphill walk to class instead of taking the bus, stretching before bed, or throwing a fitness class into a free afternoon are all small adjustments that I’m making that are easy to keep at school and in the future.
5. Be more involved in the community
I used to volunteer a lot in high school, and I want to get back to it. This year, I threw myself into my THON efforts and joined a committee so that I could be involved in making the event happen, rather than just watching as a spectator. Now that the weekend is over, there’s a huge hole in my schedule that I’ve decided I want to fill with other forms of volunteering. There are lots of places to get involved or make donations around State College (Centre County Women’s Resource Center and Centre County PAWS are two well-known examples). Fraternities and sororities are always hosting philanthropy events that anyone can attend, and there are even co-ed community service fraternities on campus for those who are interested. There’s no shortage of ways to get involved in the community if that’s a New Year’s resolution you want to work on.
6. Clean out my closet
“A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear” – it’s so true. Except this year, I’ve decided it’s time to officially go through my closet and drawers and get rid of the things I’m certain I won’t be wearing anymore. In a small room in an apartment or dorm, it’s easy for things to get cluttered. Whether you sell your old clothes in order to buy new ones, pass them down, or donate them, this is likely one of the easiest New Year’s resolutions that will leave you feeling much better.
Here’s to keeping this up for the rest of the year!