Hey students, forget new year’s resolutions and do these 7 things instead

New Year’s resolutions are fine. Good stuff you can actually finish is better. Even if you’re not the #NewYearNewMe type, it’s a good time to write down (important) those things you’ve been putting off and reflect on them often so they actually get done/remembered/thrown out (hey, they’re not always right).

Now’s the time to get out your diary or your notes app, and set in stone your plans for the year.

1. Get assessments finished 2-3 days BEFORE they’re due

Studying
To do your best work, you need to be able to write, re-write, and re-write again. An extra couple of days to go over your assessments and tweak them based on your assessment criteria is going to be the difference between good and great grades. Plus, you’ll feel so good submitting early and watching your classmates still struggling to the finish line.

2. Take the lead on group assessments

Study teaches a lot of technical skills for your chosen profession, but unless you’re specifically doing a business degree or a Master’s degree in business, you won’t get a chance at leadership or project management for quite some time. In almost every job both of these skills are highly valued so taking the lead in group assessments and special projects will give you the experience to put these into action when you graduate. Keep track of the projects you lead and mention them in your job applications or interviews. Not to mention that this way you’ll have more control over the final product and your final grade.

3. Do some sort of exercise every day


Healthy body, healthy mind. Not only will daily exercise help you to study better, sleep better and live a better lifestyle overall, many studies suggest it will also give you a better outlook on life and increase your happiness levels. Set the refresh button and use your study break to get your blood pumping. Choose something you enjoy: gym, yoga, cycling, sports – even a walk is enough to make it a habit. And remember any moving is better than none, even if you are short on time.

4. Do one thing each week for yourself

It’s so easy to get lost in the semester to the point where you haven’t done any of the things you love to do for months. Hobbies such as painting, writing, reading (for leisure), even watching a movie should still be included in your weekly routine. Put a few hours in your diary for yourself every week. Self-care Sunday anyone?

5. Plan your meals

The difference between eating healthily and eating junk is planning. And if you don’t want to book one of our new accommodation & meal packages, then prepping some of your meals at home is going to help you save money and will give you the proper fuel your body needs. Make a list at the start of the week of what meals you’re going to cook, and allow yourself a treat every now and then. You can even prepare your meals in advance and take advantage of your freezer, just pop in the fridge to defrost the night before you want to eat your meal. It’ll make better brain food and will be budget-friendly.

6. Save some cash

Speaking of budget-friendly, do you even have a budget? There’s heaps of free budget apps you can download to help you manage your finances. Even if you can only save a couple of bucks a week, it makes for good habits down the track and it’s a bit of sweet spending money for when the study break rolls around. Test the waters with a no-spend day once a week and watch the savings roll in.

7. Socialise more

Resident Assistants
Study can be the best time of your life, but it can also feel like all you do is study. Sure you’re busy meeting deadlines and probably working as well, but there are so many social perks to the student lifestyle you should also be taking advantage of. Making time for friends and meeting new people will ensure you have a great year and make memories that last a lifetime. Your social life is just as important as your study life. It’s all about balance.

Now add a few of your own. Remember to make your goals measurable and specific so you can check up on them throughout the year and see where you’re at. Here’s a few more topics for inspiration:

  • Exercise goals
  • Eating goals
  • Reading goals
  • Travel goals
  • Volunteering
  • Writing more
  • Focusing on relationships
  • Drinking less
  • Sleeping more
  • Saying yes to opportunities

You get the drill, now it’s your turn.