KATHY MILLAR
Living Assistant
The question is usually asked at holiday celebrations or family dinners over winter break: So what’s your New Year’s resolution? For college students, New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to reflect on the previous semester and decide to improve some aspect of their lives. Though New Year’s resolutions can cover a wide spectrum, the resolutions typical of college students include new physical training regimens, eating healthier food, or trying to call people rather than e-mailing them. Unfortunately, many students break their New Year’s resolutions quickly because they don’t have a plan. These suggestions could make keeping your New Year’s resolution more effective, and keep you on track to success.
Don’t make a New Year’s resolution too hastily. If you spontaneously came up with your resolution while you were out with friends on New Year’s Eve, now is the time to make sure you have thought it through. New Year’s resolutions that are deliberately and carefully made are more likely to last.
Try making your New Year’s resolution with a friend, or have a friend hold you accountable. Having someone else supporting your progress can be motivational. Plus, while working on your resolution, you and your friend can have a sense of humor and laugh about it together.
Research your New Year’s resolution. Knowledge about your goal for the New Year will provide you with more depth for your reasons to change. Look up different approaches to reaching your goal on the Internet or at a bookstore. You can also ask knowledgeable people about the topic.
Decide on realistic steps you can take toward your resolution. There’s no need to be too hard on yourself. If you want to cut down on drinking coffee, it would be easier to reduce your consumption over a couple of months than it would to try to instantly change your habits. Your New Year’s resolution may require only minor adjustments to your busy schedule.
Make reminders for yourself about your New Year’s resolution plan. Don’t go overboard by putting distracting posters of your goal on your mirror. Instead, help yourself by placing simple notes on your desk or calendar.
Give yourself rewards for progress. Periodic incentives, like that new pair of jeans or sunglasses you really want, can give you something to look forward to while you stick to your resolution. You can also balance your hard work with breaks, such as going to the beach after extensively searching for internships.
Don’t delay. Once you begin your New Year’s resolution, you are already closer to reaching it. If you aren’t successful at reaching your resolution the first try, you can always adjust your plan and try again.
01-19-2006
