Written by: Afrin and Charlene Wang
Phrases like “New Semester, New Me!” or “A New Beginning to a New Semester!” are very common to hear especially around this time of year. However, how many of you have actually sat down and brainstormed feasible resolutions that will make your new semester better? It is easy to just list down many new semester resolutions, but it takes determination and consistency to follow through with your goals. Annual resolutions are very crucial to determine what’s truly important in your life. Here are five realistic resolutions that you can aim to follow this coming academic year.
1. Fix your Sleep Schedule
While the holidays definitely gives us some time to sleep late and sleep in, having a set sleep schedule can help us to think more clearly and do better in school, as well as reduce stress and improve your mood. Here are some ways that can help reset your sleep schedule.
- Fixing your body clock can be difficult, thus you need patience. Adjust your bedtime, by going to bed fifteen minutes earlier each night. Scaling back your bedtime every night will make a major difference to your body clock in a month.
- Do not take naps longer than 20 minutes, even if you are tired. Even though there is merit in power napping, taking naps for too long can interfere with your sleep schedule when you are trying to go to bed at night. Instead of napping, try exercising. A quick workout will easily chase away the sleepiness.
- Do not sleep in, and get up at the same time each day. Consistency is key when trying to maintain a sleep schedule. Once you have found a good pattern of sleeping and waking up, stick to it the best you can.
2. Exercise More
Try picking up a sport in the new semester, or incorporate a run into your everyday routine. This may seem like a rather basic and popular one, but a lot of people tend to underestimate the benefits that exercise has. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.”
3. Pick Up a New Skill
It’s always a good idea to expand your mind and pick up something new. Give learning a new language a shot, or brush up on a language you have lost touch with! Another skill you can learn is speed reading. This helps you understand the fundamental principles of the human visual system, allowing you to eliminate inefficiencies in your reading and increase the speed at which you read while also improving your retention. Even slight improvements in reading time can save a lot in the long term. Moreover, crocheting has also been on the rise on TikTok lately, with people making cute frog hats. Learning these kinds of new skills gives you motivation, boosts confidence and keeps you healthy, as it keeps your mind engaged and body active.
4. Clear Out your Wardrobe
Out with the old and in with the new! Discard the outfits that you will no longer use and organise the outfits that are left in your wardrobe. Clearing your wardrobe of items that you do not wear often anymore can be pretty cathartic, and it can make space for brand new outfits to wear to school in the new semester. Organising and decluttering your wardrobe will help you de-stress and have a wardrobe that is free from clutter. You can also consider donating your old clothes to shelters such as HCSA Community Services, and even Uniqlo.
5. Eat Healthier
While McDonalds and takeout is pretty good, eating healthier and taking care of your health is even better. Try incorporating more greens and fruits into your everyday diet, and cutting down on greasy fast food. Eating home cooked food whenever you can is also a healthier alternative from ordering GrabFood all the time.
We hope these 5 simple yet effective resolutions can inspire you to make this semester better than the last. But remember that the most important thing is to be content this coming semester. Thus, take control of your health and strive to be happy. Good things are on the horizon so, let’s kiss last semester goodbye! All the best in Academic Year 2023/2024.
