New Year's resolutions you'll actually want to keep

As we turn the page to a new year, it's the perfect time to set new goals. But let's face it—many New Year's resolutions fall by the wayside within weeks. Maybe it's because we tend to reach for the start when setting that goal, so let's try to make them practical, achievable, and aligned with your personal growth as a student.

So, here's a compiled list of five New Year's resolutions that cover academics, hobbies, wellness, and mental health—goals that are attainable and impactful for a balanced and successful year.

Setting Realistic Goals, Both Academic & Life

We tend to make goals rather vague and abreast, like "do better in school." Let's aim for something specific like a specific GPA, doing better in a specific subject, or mastering particular skills/habits like coding language and define them by measurable goals. Break them down into smaller tasks, like weekly study sessions, attending office hours to keep yourself on track, or even having quarterly checkpoints to see your progress!

Tip: Use a planner or digital tool like Google Calendar to schedule study time and track deadlines. Rather than saying it's a yearly goal, focus on quarterly goals, which help us measure and redirect us on our progress!

Explore and Cultivate A New Hobby

As a student, sometimes our goals only revolve around academics, getting trapped in a never-ending cycle of assignments and exams, but it's essential to nurture your creative side, too. It could be something creative like painting or learning a life skill like cooking, but adding a hobby benefits our lives in multiple ways. Aside from gaining a skill, it is also a healthy way to unwind and reduce stress.

 Tip: Join a campus club or find local workshops to connect with others who share your interests. Ontario Tech has various student clubs catering to all kinds of hobbies.

TAKE A BREAK! Practice Self Care

Speaking of reducing stress reminds us that we, as students, get caught up in academic stress, but our mental health should always be a priority. 

Make it a resolution to check in with yourself regularly and seek support when needed. Ontario Tech offers counselling and mental health services that you can access throughout the year.

Self-care isn't just about spa days (although those can help!). Active self-care involves caring for your body and mind through habits promoting overall wellness. Make time for regular exercise, eat balanced meals, and get enough sleep. These practices are essential for maintaining energy levels and focus for your academic and personal life.

Tip: Start with a daily 5-minute mindfulness practice or journaling to check in with how you're feeling. You'd be surprised by how much this helps improve clarity and overall quality of life.

Tip: Join a fitness class or use the recreation facilities at Ontario Tech, which offer options like yoga, Zumba, or weight training.

Declutter Your Space

Like decluttering your mind and practicing good self-care, creating a clutter-free environment helps contribute to a cluttered mind. As the New Year rolls around, try arranging your space to be much more open, organized, and free from negative distractions; it helps you stay focused and reduces overwhelming feelings.

However, this isn't just for living spaces; digital spaces also help establish healthy digital habits. Creates goals to limit screen time when you wake up and right before bed; balancing online time allows you to do more online activities.

Tip: At the end of each day, commit to spending 10 minutes tidying up your workspace. It's a simple way to keep your environment conducive to productivity.

Tip: Use apps like Screen Time (for iOS) or Digital Wellbeing (for Android) to monitor your phone usage and set time limits for social media apps.

Make Time for Connection and Strong Relationships!

As students, we tend to get tied up just studying and balancing a social life. However, college life is more than grades; it is about building relationships, connections, and experiences that last a lifetime. So, this year, let's set a goal to make more friends and make more career-related relationships, whether attending social events, networking events, scheduling regular meetups, or holding events all year round. You can even do this by volunteering and giving back; while most see this as something that benefits your community and those around you, volunteering helps us find a sense of purpose and self that aids our overall well-being.

Tip: Set weekly reminders with friends, even if it's a video call. Preschedule any event around campus into your calendar even if you're a little on the fence about attending; join clubs and see if you can meet new people! Volunteer with your long-term friends on a quarterly basis. Just take the small steps first.

Overall, I hope you found this list helpful in setting realistic goals this year that align with your academic and personal well-being. Whether improving your academic performance, nurturing your passions, or prioritizing your mental health, these resolutions are achievable and designed to help you thrive throughout the year.

With Love As Always,

Alex