This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at WPUNJ chapter.
A new year means a new you, right? Well, that’s what most of us aim for as the ball drops marking the beginning of a new year. The first month is always the easiest. We try to get into the swing of a new routine and do our best not to resort back to old habits. Sometimes things get in the way and our resolutions are pushed aside. Here are common resolutions and tips to help achieve a better you.
- Get Fit/ Lose Weight: Getting fit or losing weight doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym every day of the week. Although going to the gym frequently is a major factor in getting fit, doing this every day might be doing more harm than good. Give your body a day to fully rest and recuperate. Trick your body by switching the day of the week you decide to rest; it will keep the body guessing by modifying your workout routine. Make a schedule and fill in the times you can go to the gym. If you make a schedule, there’s no excuse for not going.
- Eat Healthier: You can still eat your favorite foods, just in different ways! The key to eating healthier is switching out a few high calorie snacks for lower calorie substitutes. If you’re craving something sweet, go for a granola trail mix instead of a brownie. If you’re a salsa and chips lover, opt make your own salsa instead of buying the store brand stuff. Fresh is always better! Instead of buying tortilla chips, toast whole wheat tortilla wraps in the oven to get a crunchy substitute. There are plenty of easy and delicious food choices that will make healthy eating habits a breeze this 2014.
- Get Better Grades: No matter how difficult your classes may be, these overlooked tips can help pave a pathway to Dean’s List! Procrastination is deadly; this semester don’t leave assignments for the last minute. The key to getting better grades is time management and asking questions. Try to get to campus an hour early for your class and leave an hour later than you normally would. You can use the extra hours to work on assignments. Also, utilize your professor’s office hours. If you have any questions about the assignment, don’t hesitate to ask your professors. It’s better to ask questions than to do the assignment blind-sighted. Getting better grades doesn’t translate to a minimal social life either. You don’t have to sacrifice spending time with friends to get better grades.
- Drink/ Smoke Less: Drinking and smoking less are not only good for your health but also your overall mood. These habits make your body tired and sluggish. You’ll find that as the year progresses you’ll have more energy throughout the day. You don’t have to quit cold turkey, but set monthly goals. For example, in the first month limit yourself to four nights of drinking. The next month, limit yourself to three nights of drinking and so forth. The same goes for smoking. Gradually decreasing the intake each month and setting up mini goals is less intimidating than quitting all at once.
- Save Money: Is your bank account low on funds? No worries! One easy tip to help you save money is to tithe into your savings account. Every paycheck set aside a certain percentage and put that into your savings account. Start with 15% of your paycheck and modify the percentage accordingly. Your savings account should rarely be touched, only tap into the account for emergencies! Putting 15% of your paycheck is a minimal but effective amount to help boost funds.
Sticking by your resolutions does not mean your life has to change drastically; it just means you have to make better decisions. Stay strong, collegiettes!