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The beginning of a new year is very exciting but can also come with a lot of pressure. People aim high, setting really ambitious goals for the new year. Setting goals (New Year’s Resolutions) for yourself can be a great way to keep yourself motivated throughout the year.

Last year I wrote out my New Year’s Resolutions for the first time and found it helpful in visualizing my thoughts. I came up with categories that describe my current life and then put a few goals in each of those categories. For example, I had an academics section, a health section, a career section, a relationships section, and miscellaneous. When making goals for each of these sections, I tried to come up with some smaller goals and some bigger goals. By completing my smaller goals, I worked towards completing my bigger goals. I also put a timeframe on my goals, so that they were measurable, and I had a way to track my progress.

My year last year felt more productive than previous years. I think that started with even making goals in the first place – I subconsciously was always working towards them. Making goals in different categories ensured that I devoted some time to categories that often were pushed to the side. I made it a priority to move my body and exercise a few times a week. This released significant amounts of stress for me because it took my mind off of homework or an upcoming test. I focused on trying to read more books in my free time, instead of mindlessly scrolling on social media. I love to read; I just hadn’t made it a priority before. I used to believe that I was too busy to read books for fun while at school, but I learned that you always have time if you make time.

Another goal of mine was to prioritize relationships. My goal was to call one sibling every week as well as one friend from high school during the school year, and one sibling and one friend from college during the summer. Holding myself to this allowed me to stay more up to date with friends who I don’t get to see in person as often as I’d like to.

I would strongly recommend making goals at the beginning of the year because it helped me grow a lot as a person and improved my quality of life. Organizing my goals into categories helped me stay on track long after the glow of the New Year’s holiday had faded away. I felt great, both physically and mentally, after making an active effort to spend less time on social media, read more, exercise more, and prioritize relationships. Make time for the things you enjoy!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the ÃÛÌÒapp Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us –ÌýÌýto pitch your idea and get started! 

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Have you ever felt like you were drowning during midterms week because all your classes have an exam or a paper on the same day? Unfortunately, this seems to be a universal college experience, so let's tackle it together. In this hyper stressful week, there are a few essential things to keep in mind: focus, fuel, and sleep. Without these three things, tireless hours spent in the library won't get you very far. So, let's dive into the best way to approach this brutal week.

The first step is to sharpen your focus. This begins with making a plan for your week. Write out what all your assignments are and when they are due. This will allow you to show up to your study sessions prepared! The next crucial step is finding a place where you feel comfortable studying. This may be the library, a common lounge, a lecture hall, a study room, etc. For some people, a concentrated study spot is a quiet part of the library and for others it may be in a louder place with background noise. The key is to be comfortable enough to focus and not get distracted. For me, this involves powering off my phone completely and putting it away in my backpack. After about 45 minutes, I allow myself to take a break, check my phone, and reset before returning to my studies.

The next vital step in killing your midterms is to be properly fueled. I normally bring a snack with me when I go to study because when I get hungry, I get distracted. Though food is an important type of fuel, there are other important types of fuel such as exercise. I feel most prepared to study and concentrate on work after going for a run, a walk, or to the gym. Any type of exercise helps me clear my mind which is important for successful studying.

Finally, a productive day of studying doesn’t go far without sleep to allow the information to process in your brain. A proper amount of sleep will help you more than one more hour of studying. Getting a full night’s rest before an exam is often the key difference between an aced exam and silly mistakes made. In taking this approach, you’ll be sure to ace your midterms this year!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the ÃÛÌÒapp Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us –ÌýÌýto pitch your idea and get started! 

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