Can you believe it’s February already? It probably means those new year’s resolutions have already been cast aside. Early morning starts, gym sessions and healthy eating had a strong start in the first week but quickly gave way to the usual routine.
However, a new semester is the perfect opportunity to give the whole ‘new year new me’ thing another shot. This time, though, it might be better to set more realistic resolutions- ones you can actually stick to, rather than pretending to.
Here’s some ideas I’ll be trying and whether you tackle one or try them all, any of these changes will set you up for a more successful semester.
- Attending all your lectures and seminars
This is a good one to ease in with- we’ve all been guilty of watching our 100% attendance slowly decrease. Instead of letting it slide again, develop the habit of consistent attendance from the start of the semester, to ensure it carries on throughout. And yes, this includes the 9am’s. Future-you will thank you when you’re not frantically messaging the course group chat for the lecture notes, after realising you snoozed your alarm.
- Engaging with your lectures and seminars
Sure, showing up to your lectures and seminars is a great first step at tackling the ‘new year, new you’, but fully engaging with the content will also mean that you get something out of it (not just your Seats code!). Dragging yourself out of bed and making it to the lecture is the hardest part, so by actually engaging (and not just hiding in the back corner playing all the New York Times games), the early starts will feel worth it.
- Staying organised and doing all your work
Now we have tackled showing up to our lectures and seminars- and hopefully engaging with them- we can focus on staying productive during our independent study time. By being organised, we can tick off all of those deadlines and still make time for the more exciting activities. Planning out your week also ensures that everything gets the attention it needs- whether it’s reading, seminar prep or the new series you’re eager to binge-watch.
- Getting a better sleep schedule
Something all of us are guilty of is promising ourselves an early night, only to end up scrolling through TikTok until the early hours.
By putting the phone down earlier (even if it means going to the lengths of restricting your screen time in settings), you can aim for a full eight hours of sleep.
Not only will your concentration in lectures extend beyond the daily wordle, but an improved sleep schedule will increase your energy, enhance your mental and physical health and sharpen your focus for more productive shifts in the Ali G.
Maybe, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can swap thelate night TikTok scrolling for a book, but only if you really want to show off!
- Make more home cooked meals
As tasty (and convenient) as the weekly rotation of pesto pasta, jacket potatoes and cheesy chips from Chester’s are, trying some new recipes will bring variety and make dinner more exciting.
Ditching the pre-packaged meals and takeaways is not only a healthier choice, but also a more budget-friendly one.
Cooking doesn’t have to be intimidating either; by starting with simple, budget-friendly recipes, you can gradually expand your skills and confidence to build a new repertoire of go-to meals.
- Set a personal goal for the new semester
The start of a new semester offers a new opportunity to reflect on what went well in the previous one and identify areas for improvement. This way you can continue the good habits, whilst making adjustments and setting new objectives.
Your goal can be anything that enhances your academic or personal growth. Whether it’s making flashcards right after your lectures or completing the optional readings as well as the required ones. Alternatively, you may choose to focus on gaining some work experience and exploring opportunities for internships. Having a goal to strive for in this new semester will make your efforts more rewarding.
So, instead of relying on the go-to excuse of ‘I’ll start on Monday’, the start of a new semester offers a fresh opportunity to begin making those positive changes now. Small and manageable adjustments will have a significant impact on the success of semester two, leaving you more organised and feeling like your hard work is paying off.