How To Accomplish Your Resolutions At SSU
March 5, 2015
By: Lisa Danca
So you’ve set your New Year resolutions, now what?
The hardest part about every new year isn’t deciding what to change but just how you are going to incorporate that change into your life. You probably think the people who achieve their resolutions must be witches and wizards, but in all honesty, it’s doing the little things that make the biggest difference.
The first thing you want to do when setting out for change, is to only make a couple of resolutions. Many people are guilty of choosing too many and then their dreams never follow through because life happens. We’re not always in control, and sometimes what we want doesn't always happen, therefore you need to reflect on what matters most to you.
Once you have determined what you want, now’s the time to map out how you’re going to bring forth that change. No surprise here, it’s taking baby steps every day. When you have a resolution, you’re ultimately trying to change your habits. Whether it’s forming a healthy habit, like flossing, or breaking a negative one, quitting smoking, it takes most people on average twenty one days to change their behaviors and routines.
To help you understand the points I am making, I have comprised a list of common resolutions college students make and the daily actions you can take.
#1- Find a job.
Research jobs online for five minutes
Visit Career Services or Student Employment
Reflect on what kind of job you’d like for five minutes
Outline your resume for five minutes
Attend an event sponsored by Career Services
#2- Get healthier
Eat one healthy thing a day
Do some form of exercise for five minutes
Skip the Shuttle when going to class
Stay in one night instead of partying. Alcohol is filled with an abundance of unnecessary calories.
#3-Making Friends/Building Relationships
Talk to someone in one of your classes for five minutes
Ask a stranger if you can eat with them in the dining hall
Go to an event
If you live in the residence halls, talk to one of your neighbors for five minutes.
Hang out with friends of a friend
Reach out to one friend a day
#4-Get Better Grades
Attend a professor’s office hours.
On the day of a test, get ready five minutes earlier to study.
Review material five minutes before going to bed. Studies show that people learn best before they fall asleep.
Outline an essay for five minutes.
Write out a list of all your schoolwork. Make notes for how you’re going to get the assignments done and on what days.
Contributor’s Note: Lisa Danca has been using this method to set her resolutions since 2013.