I know I’m not alone when I say that I’m looking to make this school year even better than the previous one. We all have goals and expectations for ourselves going forward. Here are some common new school year resolutions and some advice on how to accomplish them.
Resolution: Staying on top of school work
Maybe you got a little behind last year or forgot some assignments. But this year, you’re hoping to take control of your workload and get it done!
Strategy: Get organized inside and out
First organize the outside-Writing down assignments and commitments not only helps you keep track of them but also helps you better understand what you need to do. Get a big calendar for your dorm room and hang it on the wall where you can easily see it. Mark down all the due dates of your assignments, the more important ones in bold or bright colors. If you have a smartphone, put all your class times as well as assignments in your calendar and make a habit of checking it every day. If writing on paper is better for you, make little to-do lists and bring them with you, crossing off assignments as you complete them.
Now organize the inside-You’ll be more productive if you are calm and collected. Make sure to schedule some time to exercise and time to relax. And whenever you feel yourself getting behind or overwhelmed, try taking some deep breaths and writing down whatever has got you nervous. You might find that the scariest tasks are actually a lot less daunting when you write them out on paper.
Resolution: Making new friends
People graduate, people move on, and you find your social life a little bit lacking. Time to reach out and make some new connections.
Strategy: Put yourself out there
Easier said than done, right? Wrong. There are many simple ways to put yourself out there that you haven’t even thought of. If you always study in your room, try studying in the library instead. Just being around other people gives you more opportunities to bump into acquaintances and make new connections. Also, take advantage of the fact that it’s the start of the year and solid study groups haven’t formed yet. Ask a new person in your classes to go over homework with you. Find at least one person in each class that you can study with. Try reaching out to old acquaintances you lost touch with. Remember how you had those friends freshman year and lost touch? Ask them to lunch. Even if all those people don’t turn out to be best friends, they can open new doors to people and opportunities you didn’t know existed.
Resolution: Keeping my room clean
Maybe you accumulated too much stuff last year, or you just didn’t stay on top of your laundry schedule. For whatever reason, your room was a mess and you’re looking to de-clutter for this new year.
Strategy: Simplify
Make sure that every item in your room is something you actually need. Throw out or give away what you never use, and plan to bring home anything that you still like but don’t need at college. The less stuff you have, the easier it will to stay clutter-free. Next, organize what you have. Get plastic boxes to store food, winter clothes, and other items. Get enough hangers to hang your clothes in your closet. Fold your clothes so they take up less room in drawers. Take advantage of the two most under-utilized storage spaces: the bed and the top shelf in the closet. Store extra bedding, towels, and winter clothes up high where they don’t take up space, and put boxes of food for easy access under your bed. Line up books on your desk shelves. The secret to organization isn’t always about the space you have, it’s how you use it. Take a trip to Target or the Container Store and check out all the storage options there to find a useful system for your room. Once you find a setup that works for you, you can reproduce it in all your dorm rooms in the future.
Resolution: Eating better
You discovered how delicious the Einstein’s cookies are, and your better eating habits went out the window. But you’re looking to make this a healthier year.
Strategy: Focus on food groups
Counting calories or following a strict diet is bound to lead you to a bad place. You’ll get discouraged or obsessed, and both of those are not helpful to your resolution. Instead, focus on eating the right types of food. At every meal, ask yourself, if there is protein and veggies/fruit on your plate. Think of vegetables and meat or dairy as your meal, and the carbs and starches as a side dish. You’ll find that you’ll feel fuller, longer, and that you won’t get the inevitable crash that comes from eating too many carbs.