5 New Year’s resolutions for students

Set up a new routine

To go with a brand-new year, you might want to set up a new routine or tweak your current one to help towards your work-life balance. You may not have control over your timetable, but what you can control is how you manage your time outside.

Why not try a new study method? The Pomodoro Technique is a time management tool that involves using a timer to set yourself 25 minutes to work on a task and when the time is up you take a short break or ‘Pomodoro’. 

Having a bedtime routine is also something to improve on in the new year. Giving your body a well-earned rest will make you feel refreshed; allowing you to fully concentrate and stay focused at uni, while also reducing your stress levels. And who knows, by getting that extra bit of sleep, you may find getting up for those 9am lectures a breeze!

Sleep goals to consider:

• Setting a bedtime.
• Shutting off electronics an hour before bed.
• Using a meditation or calming app to wind down before sleep.
• Sleeping and waking at the same time each day. 

Finish assignments at least a day early 

In line with a new routine, why not make it a habit to finish your assignments at least a day earlier? Question is, how? Here are some quick tips to help get the ball rolling!

• Start by writing down when your assignments are due. Make your due date one day earlier.  
• Tell at least three people you are completing your assignment a day early. This way, whenever you see them, they’ll probably ask you about your progress.
• Break the assignment into small, manageable steps. Sometimes we procrastinate because the work seems overwhelming. Small chunks of work are more manageable.
• Eliminate procrastination enablers. Leave your Insta feed, Tik Tok and hula hoop (if you’re into that) alone! 

Try something new and broaden your horizons  

Believe it or not, there is a lot more to university than lectures, seminars, and coursework.  Joining a society or a sports team can open you up to new experiences, new skills and most importantly, new friends. 

If sport clubs aren’t your thing, you could unwind by getting stuck in to a new tv series, read about a culture, a way of life, or you could use an online resource to take a course in a new skill like a new language or BSL! 

Eat healthier 

For years, everyone’s new year’s resolution has been to eat healthier, which then musters up all the guilty feelings when you inevitably fail after a week (or two if you’re strong-willed!) There’s no reason to feel guilty, you have nothing to prove to anyone!

The temptation to grab a takeaway can be particularly high this time of year when you need a little pick me up after the holidays, so why not make a promise to treat yourself after handing in an assignment that you’ve spent ages working on or on your flatmate's birthday? 

In the meantime, why not scour social media for inspiration, there are thousands of people out there documenting their meals! When you’ve come across a recipe that you like the look of, there’s always the opportunity to make in bulk and freeze for another time or share with your flatmates. 

Set a monthly budget 

For students who started university in the autumn, January is about that time when you take a look at your bank account and get a bit of a shock. 
 
If this is your first experience of living alone, it can take a bit of time to get the hang of living within your student budget. Most students would probably agree that they’d like to spend less in the coming year.  
 
If you need some assistance on managing your money, our Student Money Advice Team are on hand to help you make informed decisions about your finances.  
 
Identify a few small things you can do – don't buy every book on your reading list, use the library and buy second-hand or do more cooking (this will help with the health resolution too!) 

These New Year’s resolutions will help you be ready to take on the year as a student successfully. 

No need to be stressed or overwhelmed, now is the perfect time to take your dreams into your own hands and set goals that will help you on your path to a degree.