We all have habits as college students that are probably better kicked than held on to. The good news is that 2013 is here! With a new year bringing new opportunities, we are able to declare our New Year’s resolution as if it were some sort of original proclamation that, if lucky, can be the one out of ten that actually sticks!
Below are six achievable resolutions for today’s college student.
1. “I won’t hit the snooze button.”
Everybody does it! Tapping the snooze button on our alarm clock or phone is the only real talent we all possess with our eyes closed. Skip out on hitting it (you can even disable it on your phone – iOS/Android) and use the precious time you’ve gained to study or make a healthy breakfast.
2. “I will spend more time in the library.”
There are tons of reasons why spending a little extra time hitting the books in the library may be better than in your dorm room next to your roommate who’s playing Minecraft.
3. “I will reform my social network usage.”
Ah, the ol’ January 1 Facebook friends list clean-up! Why not take that a bit further? Limit your daily consumption of your friends’ statuses on Facebook and photos of cats and elephant-shaped pancakes on Instagram—and use some of that saved time to read a book or start your own social network.
Reform doesn’t only mean limit—bolster your presence on LinkedIn to foster professional relationships!
4. “I will substitute tea for coffee once a week.”
Coffee is like water to college students. That being said, it sometimes can get boring and we need to mix it up a bit. What better way to throw a curveball in your schedule that drinking tea once a week? It can even help you with weight loss, lower cholesterol, and other health benefits!
5. “I will write down my goals with a timeline.”
If you haven’t done so already, the net benefit of defining your intended endpoints for the week, month, and year are only positive. It forces you to outline what you want and explicitly find a path to get there. Since the deed is organic, you will need to keep amending it with time.
6. “I will read a basic economics book.”
Our national headlines are printed with words like “Fiscal Cliff” and, after all, we are in college—arguably one of the biggest investments in our lifetime. In our global economy, why not learn a little bit about how the world works?
What’s yours? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!
Cover Photo: Binghamton University, Winter 2012