Ten New Semester Resolutions You Need To Make Now

By Tamiera Vandegrift on January 8, 2016

Another semester has come and passed, giving life to another few months of college life to enjoy. Many enter this new semester retrospectively as we remember our decisions and experiences from the last, both the good and the bad. When these retrospective thoughts enters your mind, the best thing to do is identify the changes you’d like to make for the better and to formulate a plan on how to actually achieve them. Although getting your butt to the gym on a regular basis and being less reckless with your bank account are wise and healthy choices to make, there are some resolutions that you should definitely make for yourself this semester that aren’t as tangible and that have a better chance of surviving past February.

1. Take more chances

Let’s face it. No successful individuals have gotten to where they are today by playing it safe. This year, take a step outside of your comfort zone. Apply for that leadership position that you’re afraid you aren’t qualified enough for. That’s the only way you’ll know whether or not you’re cut out for it. Ask that cute person in your class (you know who I’m talking about) if they would like to grab coffee and study with you this weekend.  That’s the only way you’ll know whether or not they could be your next beau. Sign up for an adventure studying abroad. That’s the only way you’ll know whether or not your heart is made to travel the world.

Source: http://www.jeremfishback.com/blog1/2012/04/22/taking-chances-its-what-life-is-about/

This year, place all of your fears aside and go forth toward that vision in your mind without fear or relent. By the time the next New Year’s rolls around, you’ll feel as though you’ve truly grown as a human being and accomplished what you once believed to be impossible.

2. Read more

Sitting down with good book in your leisure is great, not only for the soul, but for the brain as well. By reading more, you’ll gain more knowledge and a wider range of vocabulary that will without a doubt speak more for your character. At the same time, who doesn’t love throughly engaging themselves in a good story or an intriguing topic? Rather than indulging in another Netflix binge, exercise your mind by tackling your reading list. After a while, you won’t even miss Orange is the New Black.

Source: http://www.desktopwallpapers4.me/girls/reading-in-the-window-18207/

If the word read brings back horrific flashbacks of your freshman English course where you spent hours trying to decode Ulysses or Tolstoy, don’t let this suggestion completely dissuade you from hitting your nearest library. Check out websites like Goodreads, where you can discover what sort of genres and stories you enjoy and uncover more hidden gems just like it. The literary world is at your fingertips waiting to be discovered and you’ll become a more rounded and proud individual having been the one to discover it.

3. Disconnect from social media… a little

It’s easy to lose hours of your time scrolling through your News Feed or exploring the inner depths of Tumblr, but feeding a raging addiction to social media is not good for your mental health or for your growth as a person. Instead of wasting an hour “liking” random Facebook posts, why not spend that time using Duolingo to gain proficiency in a new language or catch up on what’s happening in the world via online or print news. You’ll be surprised with how much you gain after losing a bit of your social media presence.

Source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeevveez/8531243852

Now, there’s nothing wrong with checking in every now and then to connect with friends and family. After all, that’s the point of social media. However, it becomes an issue when you find yourself struggling with choosing between productivity and personal growth, and scrolling through your Instagram feed for the hundredth time. Remember to make your life just as interesting and beautiful as your friends’ lives appear to be on social media. With that mindset in place, urging yourself to sign out every once in a while won’t be as much of a personal challenge, but more of a personal gift.

4. Break away from bad vibes

As hard as this is to accept, it is possible for your life to be hindered and spat upon by those you love. These are the people in your life that wear you down and belittle you, rather than building you up and inspiring you. Slowly spending less of your time with these toxic individuals will cut the binds that held you back from growing and will allow you to establish healthier connections with people who actually deserve your friendship. In the end, you’ll be happier and less likely to become a toxic individual yourself.

Source:https://pixabay.com/en/photos/unhealthy/

However, these bad vibes can come from within as well. This past year could have come with its share of pain, whether it was in the form of a breakup, a personal failure, or the death of a friendship. However, don’t allow yourself to waste this year holding onto the past by fueling grudges and letting the emotional wounds fester. Stop Facebook-stalking your new ex and instead focus on improving yourself for the next lover to come your way. Rather than allowing a failure to define you, grow from it and identify your missteps to avoid hitting the same pitfalls again in the future. As tragic as life may seem, the real tragedy only comes when adversity conquers you. This year, conquer adversity instead.

5. Learn to cook something besides Ramen

Yes, it’s convenient to toss a block of Ramen on the stove and cook it in less than three minutes. However, when you’re cooking to impress your parents or a significant other,  the last thing you want to do is welcome them to your table with the crinkling sound of a Ramen noodle packet. Believe it or not, there are a plethora of easy recipes that yield some pretty delicious results. At the same time, Ramen and other packaged, “easy-to-make” dishes aren’t exactly the best for your health. Have you looked at the sodium content of a Ramen noodle packet lately?

Source: https://pixabay.com/en/food-japanese-asian-715542/

Cooking doesn’t have to be rocket science! Plenty of resources exist (Hint: Pinterest) that offer delicious recipes that would make your mother very proud to call you, a collegiate Wolfgang Puck, her offspring.

6. Never become set in your habits

A wise man once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over. Well, I am paraphrasing a bit but you probably get the idea. It almost seems like our world today promotes the idea of total, unrelenting monotony. Wake up, eat breakfast, go to class, do your homework, rinse and repeat. Don’t let this become your life this time. The beauty of life is revealed through its variety, not its order.

Source: Into the Wild (2007 film)

Think about it, would you rather live each day knowing exactly what its outcome would be or would you rather be pleasantly surprised by the random, sporadic experiences that crossed your path every day? If the former seems more appealing, there’s nothing wrong with that. After all, it’s only natural to feel comfortable settling into the normal order of things without rocking the boat. However, it’s a habit that still needs to be shaken, if only just a tad. Instead of going to the same Chinese restaurant every weekend, why not try Vietnamese every once in a while? When you find yourself ordering the same Starbucks latte with extra pumps of mocha, why not mix something new and exciting like peppermint or hazelnut. Change can be intimidating, so start small and watch your life transform into an adventure.

7. Open your mind

Along the same lines as avoiding habits, don’t close yourself off to new ideas either! My public speaking professor, the wonderful Mark Zeigler, remarked on how, as humans, we build mental roadblocks against new ideas. Even as you read this sentence, you may be muttering to yourself, “Screw this writer. Of course I don’t have any mental roadblocks.” However, you’re only further emphasizing my point. This time, knock down those roadblocks and crush them into dust, allowing new ideas to flood your mind.

Source:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Openyourmind.png

When your friends invite you to go with them to a house party, don’t close yourself off and dismiss it as “not your thing”. That one invitation that you turned down could have taken you right to the time of your life. If those little billboards on campus are completely littered with signs advertising for free weekly dance classes, resist using your two left feet as an excuse. Maybe a night of lessons could have unraveled a fiery passion for dance that you didn’t even notice a spark for. This year’s you will have an open mind to all of the things last year’s you would’ve missed out on and you know what? This year’s you will be pretty darn pleased about it.

8. Drink more water

As I’m sure you’re aware, the majority of your body is made of water, sixty-percent in fact. This makes it pretty important to your health. Dehydration can lead to cramping muscles, stinky breath, chronic headaches, and much more harm to your body. Sure, it doesn’t taste the greatest but that’s why we have flavor enhancing substances, like Propel and Crystal Light. My personal recommendation is Mio:

Source: http://www.drinkwhat.com/mio-energy-liquid-water-enhancer/

Not only is Mio just plain delicious for self-proclaimed sugar addicts like myself, but it also comes with energy enhancing substances, mainly caffeine, to ensure that you get your much needed kickstart to the day. By consuming water regularly, you’ll be able to control your calories better, make your skin smoother than jazz, and keep your organs running strong. If drinking H2O really isn’t your cup of water (I’m so sorry), try eating a regular diet of fruits and vegetables. According to WebMd, roughly 20% of our water intake actually comes from what we eat.

Bottom line? Drink water. Enough said.

9. Learn to create your own happiness

When you’re in this amazing period where you’re building your life, never forget the most important foundation: happiness. While you’re on the road to a career, remember to take a few pit stops every now and then to remember who you are and what brings you joy. This time, don’t lose sight of yourself. Retain your individuality in all instances. Never allow yourself to be swallowed by a new relationship, a new job, or a new group of friends. For the most part, at least at this stage of life, these things are only temporary and external. They do not (and will never) constitute your identity.

Source:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rain_of_Happiness_2.jpg

If you ever should find yourself slipping away this year, stop and reevaluate. Spend some quality time getting to know yourself and what makes you come alive. Take yourself out on a date once a week and treat yourself to the best dessert the menu has to offer. Buy yourself that special thing you’ve been eyeing lately instead of waiting for your significant other to pick up on hints about it. Go on long walks in nature where you can just taste the air around you and fall in love with every breath. Watch that indie flick on Netflix that your friends dismissed as “too weird” (I do this all the time so if you need recommendations, you’ll find my contact information at the bottom of this page). In this crazy world, it’s easy to lose sight of yourself with all the distractions surrounding you. This year, keep yourself in mind. After all, you’re stuck with yourself.

10. Stick to your resolutions

Don’t just stick to this resolutions for the semester. Instead, spread them out and apply them to your life in its entirety. Friends, every breath, step, and glance you take is tagged with an expiration date. Sadly, life is not as infinite as we’d all love for it to be. With that being said, make your time here something beautiful.

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