I’ve never been someone to make New Year’s Resolutions, but I felt compelled to this year. I had an urge to think of my goals and write them down. Maybe it’s because it’s a new decade. Maybe it’s because I watched a lot of “New Year’s Resolution” videos on Youtube. Maybe it’s because I want to hold myself accountable. Whatever the reason, I’m glad I made some and so I decided to share them here.
1. Listen to The Daily Podcast 5 days a week.
I’ve always been passionate about politics and think of myself as someone who is pretty informed about what is going on in the world. However, in the past few months, I’ve been slacking. I’ve decided it’s time to change that. I need to make sure I am educated on the world and what is happening in it. To do this, I’m going to try to listen to The Daily podcast five days a week. The Daily is a podcast produced by the New York Times Monday-Friday, every week. Each episode is about 20-30 minutes and includes a concise, clear summary of the latest in politics. By listening to these just 30 minutes every day, I can become better informed about what is going on in this country and around the world. And following through with this goal can be simple. I can just listen to the podcast as I walk between classes or back to my dorm. I’m determined to stick with this goal, and I’m excited to become a more informed citizen in 2020.
2. Continue working out 4 days a week.
Over the summer, I got really into exercising and eating better. Throughout the last semester, I went to the athletic center four times a week. And I loved it. It made me feel healthier, both mentally and physically. It allowed me to get in a study break while still being productive and taking care of myself. It left me feeling energized and rejuvenated, not sluggish like I sometimes feel after watching Netflix for hours on end. I love this feeling, and I want to make sure I keep experiencing it. So, I’m determined to continue going to the gym 4 times a week. While this goal may not be about starting something new, it’s important I set it so that I can maintain the healthy habit I already have, despite my busy schedule.
3. Continue to eat healthy but also continue to live my life.
As I mentioned earlier, I started prioritizing my health over the summer. I began to pay more attention to what I eat and what I fuel my body with. While this helped to create a healthier me, it can be a slippery slope. It’s hard to find the balance between eating healthy and also enjoying chocolate ice cream with Reese’s pieces. Reconciling these two things has been challenging but rewarding. Over the past few months, I’ve gotten better at keeping this balance. And in 2020, I hope to continue to nourish my body with delicious and healthy food while still enjoying pizza with friends.
4. Spend more time outside.
Research shows that spending just 120 minutes a week in nature can decrease stress levels, improve mental health, and increase life expectancy. So, in 2020, I’m spending more time outside. I’ve always loved being outside, I just never make time for it. But it’s time to change that (when the weather is warmer of course). I can implement spending time outside in simple ways. Instead of taking a 20-minute study break to watch a Youtube video, I can go for a walk. Instead of always running on the treadmill, I can run on the Gap Trail. Instead of doing homework in Ascension, I can do my homework on the lawn outside of Ascension. With a little effort and planning, I can spend more time outside. So if you’re looking for me this spring, you know where to find me.
5. Get a summer internship.
One of my goals for this year is to find a summer internship. For the past five years, I have worked as a camp counselor at a local day camp. While I have loved my time as a camp counselor, I’m ready to venture out and gain some new work experience, hopefully, in a field that I’m passionate about. As an International Studies major who is also completing the Public Policy concentration here at Kenyon, I’m interested in politics, and I’m passionate about helping others, both in the U.S. and abroad. As the 2020 elections near, this summer would be such an exciting time to get involved and make a difference. Despite my busy academic and extracurricular schedule, it is important that I think about gaining experience in the fields in which I hope to pursue after college. With hard work and maybe waking up early on weekends to submit applications, I hope that next year I can write a piece for Her Campus about my first internship.
As I become older and responsible for myself more than ever before, I want to ensure that I am always learning and growing. I hope these goals help me to accomplish this, and I’m excited to see where I am a year from now.
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