6 New Year’s Resolutions for University Students
A key aspect of being a student is setting and working toward goals — and there’s no better time to set some new goals than at the start of a new year. An obvious resolution is to improve your grades, but there’s much more you can do outside of that pursuit. There are several resolutions in particular that are ideal for university students. Best of all, you can personalize all of them to make them meaningful to you.
Here are a few options to consider.
1. Strike a Balance Between Your Studies and Your Social Life
Some students become too absorbed in their schoolwork and miss out on the social side of the university experience. Others do the opposite, neglecting their studies to hang out with friends. It’s crucial to find a middle ground to ensure you graduate on time but also enjoy yourself at college. Think about where you stand at the moment and how you could make improvements. Setting a minimum number of hours you’ll spend on each per week can be helpful for this.
2. Improve Your Spending Habits
It’s stressful to approach the end of the month and have no spending money left. At the same time, debt toward your student loans may be piling up. Making sure you stick to a budget and changing some of your basic spending habits can go a long way.
There are several things you can do to control spending. For instance, you could prepare more of your meals at home. This goes for breakfast, too — morning coffee can be a big expense! In addition, if your closet is beginning to look particularly full, consider selling some of your clothes on a platform like Poshmark. Whenever you do need to buy something, use student discounts. Another thing to do is check the apps on your phone and consider which subscriptions you actually need. Set a reminder to cancel any unnecessary ones before your next payment. Finally, track expenses to find more ways to save money and perhaps adapt your budget to make more sense for your needs.
3. Learn How to Learn
You may improve your grades to an extent by studying harder, but you’ll see much better results if you study smarter. Think about what particular aspects you find the most difficult, whether that’s note-taking, preparing for exams, essay writing, or retaining knowledge. Experiment with new techniques, ask for feedback from your professors, and attend workshops to improve your skills.
4. Ask for Help More Often
Whenever you feel like you’re struggling, remember that help is available. You can visit your professors during office hours, send a faculty member an email, or take advantage of the variety of student support services your university has to offer.
5. Choose Classes That Relate to Your Career Goals
Spend time researching possible careers for after you graduate and consider what it would take for you to land your dream job. It may be helpful to talk to people who work in the field about what kinds of skills you need, especially if you’re unsure about what electives to pick. When you have a goal in mind, even the most difficult material should feel manageable.
6. Lead a Healthier Lifestyle
There’s likely something you could do to be healthier physically or mentally. Perhaps you could eat more of a nutrient-dense diet, make sure you get enough sleep each night, reduce screen time, or exercise on a regular basis.
One last new year’s resolution should be to move into better student housing. You can find luxury Carleton University off-campus housing at The Revalie. With amenities like a fitness centre, private study areas, and a social lounge, it will be easier to succeed with many of your other resolutions when you live here. Take a virtual tour to see for yourself.