New Year's Resolutions for Your Student

A new year brings New Years resolutions, vowing to start healthier lifestyles, budget better, and more. Each person has their own idea of what they want to start or quit in the new year, but it can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to begin.

If your student is still stuck on making that list of New Year resolutions, here are a few ideas for them to draw inspiration from as we approach the end of the first month of Spring semester. 

Lower your technology usage. This is a big one for many people, not just students, as they are constantly using their phones and laptops for class and studying. Excessive use of technology like this can result in eye strain and headaches, and can cause a sedentary lifestyle for many. Students can try to shorten the amount of time they spend on technology by handwriting notes or putting a limit on unnecessary phone and computer usage.

Get more sleep. Most people need 7-8 hours of sleep each night in order to feel well-rested the next day. Establishing a regular sleep schedule can help make sleep a priority. This includes weekends! Students may think that sleeping-in helps their body “catch up” on lost sleep throughout the week, but in reality, changing their sleep routine by an hour or more will throw their body off for the following week. 

Spend more time studying. If your student was displeased with their grades at the end of last semester, now is their chance to get motivated. Students should buy or rent their textbooks before assignments and readings are due, take good notes during class, and complete homework on time. If there’s a topic in class that is confusing or if they happen to miss class, encourage your student to be in contact with their professor or drop by during their office hours to explain their situation. 

Don’t skip class. For some students, skipping class is a huge problem. If your student finds themself struggling in the class or not making the grades they want, they might consider making it a goal to not skip class for an entire semester. If they’re already paying for the class, it’s worth it to get their money’s worth and actually go. Even more so, if instructors take attendance, it typically counts towards the overall grade. 

Budget. Another big goal for students could be to budget their money. If your student finds themselves constantly spending it their money on unnecessary luxuries like fast food, clothes, or random purchases, this might be a good resolution for them. Encourage your student to create a budget to keep on track. This will help them identify how they're spending their money and how they might be able to eliminate some of the extra. Financial Aid provides a great budget worksheet that can assist your student in solidifying their budget--click here to download it.

Make time for yourself. It is easy for students to get overwhelmed with extracurriculars, work, class, and their social life. Constantly staying busy and not enjoying downtime when needed can drain students of their energy. Even if it is hard, encourage your student to take a few moments or schedule a specific activity to start making time for themselevs. This can be as little as taking a few minutes to practice some self care habits or turning down a night with friends for a night of relaxation at home instead. 

Exercise. Getting some kind of physical activity for 20-30 minutes each day is a great way to beat stress and achieve overall wellness. Not only does exercise relax muscle tension, it also improves sleep and boosts confidence. Encourage your student to check out the Leach Center or the Fitness and Movement Clinic (FMC) for a quick work out or a spinning, boxing or yoga class!  

We encourage you to follow up with your student and support them as they work towards achieving their goals in 2020.