5 Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

It’s a new year and with all the pressure of heading back to school and getting back into the daily grind, who wants the extra pressure of a list of lofty goals you’ve set for the year. Instead of trying to drop ten pounds, drink 4 gallons of water daily, and get straight A’s, why not set some goal that are actually attainable? You’ll still get the great feeling of accomplishment without all the stress:

Splurge for Spring

Pull yourself out of the winter duldrums by peeking ahead at the upcoming spring trends. Whether it’s jumpsuits, stripes, lace, or hot pants, you’re bound to find a trend that catches your eye. Once you pick your favourite, collect your spare change and save up any extra cash you have for a few weeks. When you have a nice lump of money, give yourself permission to hit the mall and scoop up the earliest spring styles as soon as they hit the racks. You’re still working towards a goal, but with a much sweeter end reward that will give you (and your closet) a much-needed boost.

Treat Yourself

No need to go crazy dieting, a better strategy is to focus on keeping everything in moderation. While that means balancing meals with lots of fresh fruit and veggies, water, whole grains, and lean meats, it also means indulging yourself once in awhile should the craving arise. Believe it or not, denying your cravings every time could actually leave you binging and going overboard. This year, indulge yourself in the occasional treat, whether that’s a batch of homemade brownies, some fresh cut fries, or even just a tall caramel macchiato. Whatever your favourite is, give yourself a break once in awhile and indulge! It’s good for you, I promise.

Ditch the Gym

If you love hitting the gym, by all means, go for it. But, for some of us, the gym quickly turns into a chore that we feel obligated to complete each week, and that’s just a recipe for disaster. Instead, why not look for new ways to get active and stay healthy this year? You can check out your school to begin, most colleges have lots of fun fitness classes with everything from yoga to burlesque dancing.

If that doesn’t float your boat, get together with a group of friends and make a resolution together to find fun ways to stay fit. You could plan to try something new each week, from snowboarding in the winter, to canoeing in the summer, and everything in between! Staying fit and healthy doesn’t have to mean sweating over a treadmill in misery, get yourself out there and have fun this year.

Make School Fun

Instead of pressuring yourself to better your grades this year and study harder, try focussing on finding ways to enjoy each and every one of your classes. Ideally, we as college students will enjoy our classes, since we are generally studying topics that interest us. But, let’s face it, some required courses can be a drag, and courses that cover similar material can get boring and redundant.

The best way to be successful in your studies isn’t to force yourself to memorize facts but to engage in the material and try to find something useful and enjoyable in your work. It won’t be easy for every class, but take the time to talk to the professor and other students, consider how you might use this information in your future career, and try to find something, even just a small part of the subject, that you can really sink your teeth into. Once you’re engaged, the grades will follow.

Party More

No, seriously, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. You don’t need to be getting sloshed every night of the week, but taking time to socialize and hang out with friends is an important part of the college experience. Everything from lunch on campus with a friend, bowling with your housemates, or a night out on the town will help you de-stress and give you a great, well-rounded college experience with some unforgettable memories.

Don’t forget to snap photos, be spontaneous, and have a good time. It doesn’t have to hurt your other goals as long as you keep everything in perspective, so go ahead and have a good time this year, you’ve earned it.