Another semester goes by faster than the last and before you know it, the year has come to an end. And as the diligent students we all know you are, we bet you’ve already begun planning for the year ahead. Here are my goals to get the most out of 2017.
1.) Eat An Apple A Day
After many late nights working on projects, speed writing essays and cramming for exams, I’ve definitely felt the effects of too little sleep, skipped meals, and not enough exercise. This semester my goal is to put my health first. If the difference between an amazing project and a good project is a few hours of sleep, more often I’ll choose the latter. If you’re not well rested there’s no way you’ll have the energy to sustain yourself for the next late night project. Another way I often give myself more time to work is to pass on lunch or dinner. Instead of doing that this year, I’ll be sure to pack a sandwich in my bag before dashing off to the lab. Then, my food breaks won’t be prolonged by a lengthy Tim Hortons line up and I’ll save a few dollars. And finally, if I know I won’t have time to go to the gym, I can get off the subway a couple stations early to get in a quick power walk. Furthermore, I’ll keep gym clothes in my locker on campus so I’ll never have an excuse not to hit the gym during a break between classes. These little changes will make for a healthier, happier you.
2.) Don’t Make Enemies With Homework
I always promise myself I won’t procrastinate, but this time it’s for real. It’s easy to throw your notes into your backpack after a lecture and forget about them until exam time. But I won’t let that happen this semester. After each lecture I’ll dedicate at least 20 minutes to reviewing and organizing my notes. That way, when exams finally hit, studying won’t be as daunting a task given the weekly review.
3.) Go Green
Toronto is already a great city in terms of being committed to the environment, however it’s time for me to do my part. This year I’ll get into the habit of putting my garbage, recycling and compost into the correct bins all the time, as opposed to halfheartedly tossing my garbage into the nearest bin, despite its proper home. I’ll also be more conscious of the effect my actions have on the environment, and what type of waste they may produce. For example, next time I need an Uber I’ll choose the pool option instead of ordering my own ride. These small changes can make a big difference and when practiced often enough, they’ll become habits for the better.
4.) Make Your Wardrobe Feel Loved
As a fashion student, one of my guilty pleasures is buying new clothes. This of course creates a vicious cycle of getting tired of my old clothes, donating them to thrift stores that already have more garments then they know what to do with, and then buying cheap new clothes. My goal for this year is to only buy pieces I absolutely love, that I can see myself getting a lot of use out of and that were made ethically and responsibly. And since I have the design & construction skills to make clothes I’ll hold off on buying more simple garments I can sew myself. These steps will lead me to have a more refined, original and ethically sound closet.
5.) Mend That Hole In Your Wallet
Going to school only steps away from the Toronto Eaton Centre creates quite the desire to consume. Buying anything from clothes, to takeout food, to home decor is always so appealing and so easy. This, however, can be detrimental to a student budget. In 2017 I will think twice about what I’m buying and if I truly, deeply need it. I’ll lay out a budget for the week and put whatever I don’t spend into a savings account, and if I overspend on my budget, I’ll take it out from the budget for the next week. To avoid impulse purchases I’ll leave my debit card at home and only bring cash for what I’m planning on buying that day. This will hopefully curb the excess spending and increase my savings for something I really want in the future.
6.) Don’t Let Friends Become Strangers
Running around the campus and locking yourself in the lab shows dedication to grades and will surely impress fellow classmates, however it doesn’t do wonders for your friendships. This year I’ll be sure to set aside time to spend with friends. If that seems too difficult to fit in, I’ll make plans to do something productive together, like go grocery shopping, or study together. This way my friends won’t forget about me and I’ll make the most out of my time.
7.) Don’t Wait Around For 2018
Being a new Toronto girl, there are tons of things on my to do list. Yet, not of lot of things ever get crossed off. This year I want to make sure I go to the museum exhibitions I’ve heard of, eat at the restaurants that have great reviews and visit the cool places I’ve seen photos of online. I’ll be more diligent about my to do list, by doing preliminary research about these things as soon as I hear about them. That way I can make plans to stop by if I know I’m near the area. Then, I’ll always have a sophisticated answer when my family asks me, “How’s Toronto?”
These may seem like a lot of changes to make, but once I get in the habit of implementing these tiny adjustments, it’ll help me to make the most out of the New Year. Hopefully this will inspire your New Year’s resolutions and here’s to making this year a great one!
Written By: Joanna Lupker
