2017 is only a few weeks old, and many of you have probably already made resolutions – and already broken them. But don’t drop them just yet.
While New Year’s Resolutions have never really been my thing (I haven’t made one in years), I believe they are essential for many people. Life is defined by goals and achievements, and this article will give you some ideas for resolutions we all really should keep (whether it is a New Year or not).
1. Read a new book every week
Be honest, when is the last time you sat down on a couch, and instead of looking through your Instagram feed, opened a book and started to read? If you are reading this, chances are it was a long time ago. Now is the time for you to do something for yourself.
It does not take too much effort. Start with something shorter that you are sure you can finish in a week. Then, once you are used to dedicating a few hours of your day to reading, proceed to longer and longer novels.
2. Take care of your body
Yes, the most overused and common “I-will-start-tomorrow” resolution of them all. Exercising is viewed as a scary thing to do for most people. Especially if they don’t feel fit enough to do it (irony huh?).
I know it’s hard to start. But once you are there, and you start to feel the benefits, you will never want to go back. With proper diet and exercise, in less than a month you will feel better, have more energy, sleep better and (last, but not least) you will look better. And people will notice.
3. Be Positive
Whether you call it the law of attraction, law of universe or The Secret, believe me: positive thoughts will bring you a positive life. So, what can you do? Cut negative people out of your life, stop overthinking and accept the mistakes that you’ve made.
Think about everything that you have, every friend you have and every great memory you have with them. Now imagine that I take it all away from you – and then give it back. This is what happiness is about, being thankful for everything you have. And don’t forget, you can start over again at any second, every second of the day.
4. Stop Procrastinating
If there is one thing that will set you back on your career path, it must be procrastination. We all have those days when we don’t feel like doing anything and we would rather spend all day in bed. That’s natural and sometimes it can be rewarding, as long as it does not become a habit.
A quick tip from me is something called the ‘5 minutes’ rule’. If there is something that takes less than 5 minutes to finish (like an email you’ve been avoiding or a phone call you just don’t want to make) just do it. Come on. It’s just five minutes, it won’t kill you.
5. Be more creative
Painting, crafting, photography or music. These are just a few art forms you can pick up whilst studying. With a lot of spare time during university, you could start any creative hobby. Maybe you’ve wanted to learn how to play a violin for a long time. Or you want to take some beautiful photographs of your city. Whatever it is, it’s important to start today and work on your craft.
6. Be honest with yourself
Self-assessment is an important step in creating a more successful life. Think about your values and your goals. Start with your strengths. Is there something you love doing and believe you are good at? Invest your time in it. On the other hand, is there something you are doing every day that you know is not doing you any good? Then be honest with yourself and stop it right now.
7. Learn something new, every day
Whether it’s how to cook your favorite dish, the history of your favorite band, or just some random facts that are interesting to you, it’s good to gain general knowledge. It is very important for a students’ intellectual progress to expand their knowledge daily.
I recommend that you become curious. Are you wondering what the first video game was? How an airplane flies? What Albert Einstein’s last words were? Just open Google and start typing. In minutes you will be dragged into an amazing world of knowledge.
8. Try New Things
Are you trying new foods, new music or foreign movies? If not, start now. Only positive things will come from experimenting. It is important to expand your knowledge on other cultures, genres and trends. Remember, even your favorite movie was once a ‘new’ movie to you.
