New Year, New You: Tips on Making Good Resolutions

Written by Jenna McConnell
Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Yiran Yang on Unsplash

The new year is finally here, and with it comes a large number of new feelings and emotions. The old year is gone, with a whole new beginning ahead of you; sounds daunting at the best of times. It also sparks the motivation in a lot of people to make changes in their lives in an attempt to better themselves and achieve goals. Thus, the tradition of New Year’s resolutions was born. People set resolutions for themselves for a multitude of reasons. Whether it be aimed at personal health, school or work, interpersonal things like making new friends or learning new communication skills, or even financial goals like saving more, there are seemingly endless things to choose from. So, how does one come to a conclusion about what to focus on this new year? Well, why not start with the classics? Below are some common resolutions people make that you can use as a starting point to making your own goals for 2024! 

Work out more

   One of the most common resolutions people tend to make involves exercising more frequently. In an attempt to get in shape and be healthier, for many, the new year brings trips to the gym or long walks around the city. It feels liberating to start on the journey to looking and feeling better in your skin, which is most likely what attracts a lot of us to the idea. It doesn’t have to be extremely vigorous either if you are not one for hitting the gym. Simply going for walks around the block or trying something relaxing like yoga is a great way to implement physical activity into your daily routine. SMU offers lots of great fitness programs at the Homburg Centre, for all different levels of athleticism. Whether you’d like to relax with some yoga, attend one of their many group fitness classes, or join one of their more hardcore training programs, there is truly something for everyone!

Photo by Ellie Ellien on Unsplash

Eat healthier

   Also, a resolution intended to better our health, a very popular New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier foods. We’re all guilty of splurging from time to time, and while there’s nothing wrong with doing so occasionally, it can become a bad habit. Attempting to alter our diet can be hard, but the benefits are plentiful. A balanced diet helps promote a healthy body, which leaves you feeling energized and ready to tackle anything that comes your way. As well, starting these healthy habits young will help students well into adulthood when life gets inevitably even crazier. 

Get organized

   A lot of us, students especially, have difficulty keeping a clean and organized space. There’s never enough time to clean properly, so it tends to fall by the wayside. Therefore, in the hopes of remedying this, a very common resolution is to devote more time and energy to staying organized. While this may be an adjustment, it will make your life so much easier. Doing small things to remain on track, like making sure everything is in its particular place or keeping a planner to remember important dates, will prove to be quite useful. Your days will go much smoother, with less time spent rushing around looking for a lost wallet or keys. Also, say goodbye to finishing assignments in a panic, as this will help you avoid procrastination and make studying a breeze. 

Go out and have more fun!

Many of us, myself included, fall victim to the sad reality of being extremely busy with our obligations. As a student, there is not a lot of time for fun in between classes and working a part-time job. Because of this, many young people make the resolution to make more time for their social lives and to go out more. Making time for fun is immensely helpful for one’s mental health and can benefit us in ways we may not even realize. Indulging in hobbies and things that spark joy, whether that be sports, art, cooking or music, makes life just a bit sweeter, and makes for a great way to improve mental health in the New Year.

   So, with all of these examples, how can we come up with our own New Year’s resolutions? Many say that it is a waste of time to even bother making new year’s resolutions, as we tend to start off strong and then fall off the horse and quit relatively quickly. A fantastic place to start thinking if you would like to combat this is to consider what it is you want to accomplish this coming year. While this sounds obvious, it is a great way to set concrete and realistic goals that you will stick to. For example, do you wish to improve something about yourself, or to implement methods of shaking that bad habit? Once you figure that out, the resolutions will simply fall into place. However, one resolution that we can all benefit from in 2024 is to be kind to one another and do our best to simply be a good person. Whether it’s saying hello to a neighbour, being friendly towards the cashier at the grocery store, or reaching out to check in on a friend, we can all use a little more kindness in the world. If we can do this, I believe we can make this new year the best one yet!