Ah, “new year, new you,” right? Wrong.
We both know you probably aren’t going to stick to that resolution you made. Maybe you’ve already thrown in the towel. You’re going to “get fit?” I’ll see you at Rollins @Night stuffing wings in your face by February. “Dressing better for class?” It’s about to look like grade school pajama day soon enough. Are you really going to have “better money habits,” or are you going to embrace the newest diet craze sweeping campuses: the Ramen-and-Cheap-Coffee cleanse? Look, at the end of the day, we’re all in this together. Change is hard, and sticking to a resolution isn’t easy. However, there _are_ practical resolutions that we all can stick to. And if you’ve already quit those initial goals set a few weeks ago, don’t fret. You can have a do-over.
####Embrace better sleep habits
It’s no secret that we all spend a lot of time in our beds, but not all of that is spent sleeping. Whether it’s homework, a snack or a Netflix binge, our beds have come to serve as dining rooms, entertainment centers and a host of other functions, too. This year, take little steps to sleep better. Try and cut the late-night tech usage in your bed; we’ve all heard how bad it is, and the studies aren’t wrong. When you’re ready to go to bed, set your alarm and put your phone across the room. You can’t stay up late on your phone, and you can’t start your day laying in bed on Twitter. If you must be up late on technology, use a night mode with adjusted lighting to make it easier on the eyes.
####Learn to love “me-time”
When you hear the phrase “me-time,” most people instantly think of bubble baths, spa days at home and other luxurious pastimes. College students don’t always have the luxury of a great bathroom or an extensive grooming product selection. You can, however, make sure you have time to yourself. Take a hour or two each week to just focus on your well-being. Watch some Netflix, read a book or get outside and do something you love. Forcing yourself to self care may be odd at first, but you’ll thank yourself later.
####Get healthy(-ish)
Everyone wants to “get fit” in the new year. The reason we all fail is not that we would rather live a life where our only physical activity is walking to and from the fridge and couch, but it’s that we try to alter our entire lifestyle in the course of a night. In getting healthier this year, try to make small changes that improve your lifestyle. Eat a few healthier meals during the week, avoid that late-night food run or do some physical activity at least once a week. You’d be surprised at how easy changes are when they’re not major.
####Drink (booze) smarter
If you don’t drink, feel free to stop reading (it’s okay; I won’t be that sad). If you do, though, the new year is always a great time to review your drinking habits and the role of alcohol in your lifestyle. When you’re out drinking, pace yourself. Find something without alcohol to drink, order drinks with extra ice, or simply drink slower. If you’re someone who drinks regularly, take time to understand whether those existing habits are healthy for the life you’re living. Binge drinking is common in college, and sometimes the “college lifestyle” clouds our view of healthy and unhealthy drinking. Objectively looking at how often and how much you drink can be an eye-opening and beneficial experience.