Whether it be a bold resolution or an excuse to try new things, many people use the new years as a way to reinvent themselves. Being a better person should be something we strive for every day, but the community spirit seen on new years can be a big motivator for many people. In this article, we will examine some of the things our peers are doing to better themselves in 2024.
Sticking to a resolution
The most celebrated New Years tradition is creating a resolution, where people set goals for themselves. Making a new year’s resolution and sticking to it can be very helpful toward your growth! For more details on creating your resolution, why not check out Laura Conway’s article from 2020! A resolution can help you reflect on skills and aspects of your life that you can improve on. Having an idea and goal helps push you in the right direction and look forward to the new year. This year, try to create a resolution that has a clear goal. Many people go broad with their resolutions, increasing the risk of the plan falling through. For example, if your goal is to gain a new skill or improve an already existing one, try to create a practice plan and schedule you want to stick to for the year instead of simply saying “I want to get better” In the long run, it will help you!
Digital cleanout
We all use our phones a little more than we’d like to admit, and because of that our phone’s organization can reflect on our personal feelings of organization. You’ve definitely got a couple, or thousand, emails that can go. Clean out that camera roll, you don’t need all seven-thousand of those pictures. Get a new background, phone case, and screen protector, everything will feel a little fresher. All of these things will help you feel less stressed and allow you to be more productive. When you have a messy room or desk space, you may feel overwhelmed and distracted, and the same thing goes for your digital spaces. So, clean out your email inbox, look through your google drive, and delete the unneeded photos and screenshot. Trust us, you’ll appreciate the organization when more assignments begin to increase again after winter break!
Planners
Buy a yearly planner for 2024, or get a free app on your phone! If you haven’t tried to consistently use a planer before, it’s never too late. Even if you’re not the forgetful type, we’re all procrastinators in some way and making a weekly or daily plan may be helpful! Planners can also be fun! On social media, many people make their own planners or decorate pre-made ones to bring out their creativity and make something seen as monotonous and boring into something fun! Planners prevent forgetting assignments and all around help organize your life.
Journaling
Similar to planning, journaling out your 2024 experience can give you a creative outlook and allow you to write about things on your mind. Journals however don’t have to be heavily detailed or beautiful, they can be simple written notes of your daily activities or logs of things you’re grateful for. Focusing on the positivity in a journal invites happiness into your life. We all go through daily obstacles and stressors and journaling is here to help you out! Keeping a physical journal isn’t required but physically writing out your thoughts can be very therapeutic and helpful but if you don’t think you’ll keep track of a physical copy, use your phone! The Iphone comes with a notes app and there are a ton of apps out there that give daily writing prompts and hold a space for you to express yourself.
Exercising
A general tip given to almost everyone, but its popularity comes with good reason. Exercise isn’t just about weight loss, it can be a great hobby and bring joy to your life. Moving your body helps it release hormones such as endorphins, dopamine, and cortisol (Healthline). These hormones are responsible for making us feel better. Everyone should aim to exercise at least five days a week, but even one day at the gym can show effects on your mood. It’s important to note that everyone begins at their own pace. If you aren’t the average gym goer or someone that works out, don’t compare yourself to others. This is something that you should do for yourself. You can work up to exercising multiple times a week, just starting is a great step that should be taken!
Seeking support
For some people, isolation is their first instinct when they feel down. Not all problems can be solved by yourself, and it’s important to have people that you can talk to. It doesn’t have to be a formal thing, something as simple as talking to your parents or good friends can make problems seem a lot smaller. If you’re someone that struggles to ask for help, even with the simplest things, try to reach out to friends and family, and strengthen your support system this new year. Having a strong support system is the foundation to improving mental health and can help you stay motivated to work.
Keeping the best friends
Sometimes, the most important things in our life are the people around us. If you’re surrounding yourself with negative people who try to keep you down, you’ll start to feel that energy reflect on yourself. Best friends are the people who love to see you succeed, and if there’s any relationships that you’re looking to strengthen you should start with those people. We all lean on our best friends during hard times, and you should make it clear to your friends that you are always there for them. Life can be stressful and we couldn’t do it without our loved ones, so show your appreciation to them this new year. You can do this by writing a card to them or simply just verbalizing your feelings towards them. It feels nice to be wanted, so remind your friend that they are loved!
Reorganize your space
When your space is cluttered, it can be hard to get your head straight. It may seem like a big task, but it doesn’t have to be. Even five minutes a day decluttering your space can make all the difference. Donate old clothes to charities and drives, give away old books to libraries, throw out your trash that may be collecting in your space, and make your space you!
Try new things!
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/exercise
