As students begin to pack up and gear up for the spring semester, there’s a lot on our minds. While making New Year’s resolutions isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it can be a good practice on the road to becoming more goal-oriented as we pursue our degrees and beyond. Coming up with solid resolutions that are specific and that you can commit to can be tricky, however. If you are struggling to think of resolutions that work for you, consider these suggestions.
Test your skills outside the classroom
As students, our primary goal is to learn. We come to university with the hopes that we can gain the proper knowledge and skills to push us toward a career path where we can flourish. While the classroom is a great place to learn new skills and test them out, it doesn’t mean anything if we can’t put those skills into practice outside of the classroom as well.
Consider finding a part-time job or internship where you can put your learned skills to good use. If you want to grow your leadership skills, consider running for an executive board position in a student organization, participating in the Student Government Association or even something simpler, such as taking the lead in a group class project.
You can also find a lab (not a class-related one) where you can grow your knowledge with practical experience. Consider taking on an independent creative project that utilizes a skillset you’ve just learned, or enter competitions and contests in your field to push your limits.
Create an exercise routine
The goal to exercise more is a common resolution and one that people are less likely to follow up on. Getting into an exercise routine certainly isn’t easy and, even if you once had a consistent routine, once the habit is broken, it may take some time to build it back up again.
Finding an exercise routine can seem daunting for a number of reasons. It can be difficult to figure out where to begin. Luckily, there’s a wide variety of options ranging from weight training, cardio, sports, yoga and more. If you are unsure of where to start, TRECs has group fitness classes led by experienced instructors at varying times and dates.
If intense exercise doesn’t sound like your thing, going for a nice walk consistently is always good. Studies have shown that spending a certain amount of time outdoors each day is beneficial for your mental health (check out this 2020 study from the American Psychological Association). There are plenty of greenways and parks in Knoxville, with World’s Fair Park being right next to campus. The UT Gardens also offer a beautiful spot to walk around once the weather warms up.
If, for any reason, you are unable to do an exercise that requires a lot of moving around, there are also options like yoga, which is not only relaxing but can also increase your flexibility. Yoga also serves as a good mindfulness exercise.
Use a planner
Many college students swear by their planners, but for those who are more prone to flying by the seat of their pants, it may not be a bad idea to invest in a planner or calendar. Simply planning things out, whether its day by day, week by week or month by month, can help you be more intentional with your time and make it easier to set goals. It’s also a good idea if you are prone to forgetfulness — write down those appointments and important exam dates.
Attend office hours
Attending a professor’s office hours can be intimidating at times, especially if you aren’t in the habit of speaking to your professors. However, regular office hour attendance is a great way to build rapport with professors. Students who regularly attend office hours also tend to perform better academically.
This semester may be a good time to consider carving 15 to 30 minutes out of your day to visit your professors. Speaking with a professor alone can be daunting sometimes, so you can even bring a friend along with you for emotional support.
Attend campus social events
Are you a shy individual who has been too afraid to attend many campus events? Have you just been too busy, bogged down with schoolwork and unable to leave your study space? This semester, consider making time to attend at least one campus event a month. Campus events can be great ways to break out of your shell, meet new friends or just take a load off after a busy week.
Whether it’s an event organized by a student organization or an official university office, there’s something for everyone.
Commit to community service
Feeling unfulfilled? Consider committing to some community service opportunities. Knoxville is certainly not lacking in community service opportunities, whether that be trash clean up around the city, volunteering at a public library, helping out at homeless shelters and more.
If you’re unsure where to start, first consider something you may be passionate about, such as sustainability or education, then find an organization that specializes in that area. If they take volunteers, consider asking the organization about volunteering and see if you can create a consistent schedule.
Many organizations are also eligible to provide service hours via the Jones Center for Leadership and Service. Consider stopping by the Jones Center in the Student Union to ask more questions about ServeUTK and how to attain service hours. This semester is also starting with the annual MLK Days of Service, in honor of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. The JCLS will be providing transportation for students to various community service opportunities throughout Knoxville. This may be a good starting point for those who desire to help out more in their community.
