It’s that time of year when we start to settle into a new mindset to match the new year.
As we say, it’s out with the old and in with the new.
When the clock strikes 12:00 a.m. on New Year’s, champagne toasts and karaoke continue to fill the air. When we awaken from our slumber later that day, we prepare to embark on the first day of our “new” lives. While some have a set of major, cataclysmic resolutions, others have non–life-altering resolutions in mind.
We try to create better versions of ourselves, swap out bad habits for good ones, and create routines hoping those better habits stay intact for the entire year. For most, these routines and resolutions only last through January and vanish in the following months, or they don’t begin until a month or two later when preparing for a beach vacation, wedding, or class reunion.
Resolutions can be as monumental or as minuscule as we want them to be—goals that we can see come to fruition in the span of a few days or even a couple of weeks.
What to purge, what to keep, and where to start for the new year is the ultimate question. Don’t stress about having all the answers.
Come New Year’s Day, remember it’s only January 1. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with the new year, but the first day doesn’t need to be busy or filled with conquering resolutions. Take a minute to breathe. Sleep in, spend the day binging a new series, or spend time with family and friends before school and work pick up again. Partake in whatever a chill, lounge day looks like to you. Keep in mind, we have 12 months to check boxes off our list of resolutions and goals.
The year ahead can be full of many goals, some of which can revolve around maintaining mental and physical health. We can conquer the year by factoring in our well-being.
Here are a few goals and practices to keep in mind alongside your other plans for the year.
It’s important to keep yourself healthy mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually all year long.
There are a number of ways to do so. Participating in recreational activities like Pilates, running, or cycling, carving out moments of self-care, taking social media breaks, and limiting screen time are just a few. Setting a theme for your year also has benefits. Think about what you want the year to look like. If you want a stress-free year, make a list of things you can do to maintain your personal peace. If you want a year of newness, make a list of new foods, places, and activities you want to introduce into your life. By setting a theme, you allow a sense of consistency to guide the year.
Journaling and reading are also great practices to implement into your lifestyle. Journaling can be a way to reset and refocus on what matters most.
If journaling sparks your interest, there are many journals available that include prompts and helpful steps to get you started, such as The Five Minute Journal or gratitude journals. According to an article published by Calm.com and clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, journaling comes with many benefits. It can help regulate emotions, boost mood and gratitude, improve memory and comprehension, and serve as a stress-relief outlet.
Journaling also supports personal growth. Having a physical record of everything you’ve done and accomplished at the end of the year can be a moment worth celebrating when another year comes to a close.
Just like journaling, reading is another great habit to include in your goals. Reading a new book or two each month gives you something to look forward to. If you want to include friends, what better time to start a book club than now?
Happy New Year, Tigers—here’s to a happy and healthy year ahead.
