The Real Ways To Meet Your Resolutions

You Can Do It! 

Two years ago, someone asked me what my New Year’s Resolution was and I answered, “To be happier.” That was it. I stopped making lists for myself that were over the top and impossible for me to live up to. It had gotten to the point where I was no longer aiming to better myself for myself for the New Year, but instead I was aiming to better myself for others.  

                

So this year, now that we are a few days into the new calendar year, ask yourself, “Have I made these goals for myself, or for other people?”

Do It For You

                

With that great resolution list, make sure you have a solid reasoning behind those goals. The only real way you are going to be able to meet your goals is if you truly have a reason to stick to them. This year let your number one reason to sticking to your goals be your own happiness. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes.

Stay In Touch With Reality

                

Make sure what you’re doing is realistic. That goal of having a super model body is nice, but starting yourself with realistic terms and conditions will get you there a lot quicker than dieting and crying for a week will. The reality is, we often hype ourselves up on the perfect images we see around us so much that we forget it won’t all happen in a day.

                

So when you make that healthy lifestyle goal, know yourself. Are you really about to work out twice a day, seven days a week and tell yourself that carbs are not an option? If the answer is no, then really think about how becoming healthier is going to work for you. Choose a routine that fits your schedule. Skip the fast food and make a meal at home. Instead of having a movie and pizza night with friends, exchange it for something active that you can all do together.

Make A Plan

                

So the fall semester didn’t make your GPA look too hot. This is your year to really clean up that transcript. This means that goal of all A’s isn’t going to happen without a plan. To meet any of your goals, a plan needs to be put into place.

                

Go ahead and take the assignments calendars from your class syllabi and put the assignments into a planner. If you don’t even have a planner, the investment is definitely worth it. Make it so that your class work fits into part of your day. For many, organizations and clubs take up a lot of time, but we have also had a common purpose within them, and that’s school. Organizations aren’t fun if you don’t have the good standing to participate.

                

The New Year brings us all kinds of new opportunities. It reminds us that it’s never too late to start a change. You have the ability to achieve any goal that you really want to, but first you have to know yourself. If you don’t know yet, it’s the perfect year to find out what makes you happy, and if you don’t know what makes you happy it’s the perfect year to find out. 


Editors Note: This article was written by one of our new writers, Amanda! Show her some love in the comments and help us welcome her to our team. 

A Few Things to Remember in 2015

Each new year, we set resolutions to make ourselves better. Each new year, we strive to be healthy or to study more. Each new year, we often forget a few things that stress us out in our resolutions. Here are 6 things to remember with your New Year's resolutions.

1. A cupcake won't break your diet goals. Nor will that slice of pizza you are craving nor the candy bar that you throw into your basket at the grocery store. Eat that cupcake! Treat yo self!

2. One bad grade doesn't make you a bad student. Make up for it next time by studying extra hard for your next test and make sure to get all of your other assignments in on time!

3. Looking perfect everyday is impossible and striving for that isn't worth it. Instead shoot for being pulled together when you need to be pulled together and as long as sweatpants only make their appearance every once in a while you're okay.

4. You will go over budget. It's fine. Cut back and adapt accordingly when you do. Try to avoid going over by limiting how often you eat out and if you won't ever wear something you bought out with friends, return it!

5. Sometimes it's hard to spend more time with family when you are away at school. Try scheduling 2 weekly phone dates with your family.

6. Being less stressed is a ridiculous mission that you will fail at! Volunteer or find other ways to relax that you can incorporate into your schedule. Goals like this are way easier to make happen!

Accept that everyone makes mistakes and that it's not that serious if you don't maintain all of your resolutions!

Leave a comment with your thoughts! 

10 Books to Read in 2015

I am not sure about you, but I am an avid book reader! I can spend an entire weekend holed up with a good book and have no regrets when I finish it in in two days. Many people list "read more" on their New Year's resolutions yet have no action plan or way to accomplish this goal. Many don't even have a list of books they would like to read. I have compiled a list of books that every college girl should read this year!

1. Girl Boss - Read the story of Sophia Amoruso and how she built her Nasty Gal empire. She gives great advice through the book and has sparked the #GirlBoss movement.

2. Yes Please - Who doesn't love Amy Poehler? This book is full of fun stories from Amy herself. She will inspire you, make you laugh, and challenge you to become a better you!

3. Looking For Alaska - With John Green being one of the most popular authors for teens and young adults, it makes sense that you should read more of his work. This story follows a teenager on his journey and makes many pit-stops on topics such as love.

4. The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin decided one day that she wanted to dedicate her life to being happy. That is where the Happiness Project began. Dedicating one full year to happiness and chronicling her journey, Rubin brings us not only a good read but a new lifestyle.

5. Packing Light - I found this book through a fellow travel blogger. It shows the story of a college grad as she travels through all fifty states in a year in order to learn more about herself and living with less baggage.

6. I Was Here - If you are looking for a more heart-wrenching fiction read, pick up I Was Here. This story beautifully portrays the darker sides of friendship and will be a story that sticks with you forever.

7. Not That Kind Of Girl - This book is a collection of essays written by Lena Dunham that will make you feel as if you are getting a sneak peek into a interesting life. From the essays, you will learn valuable lessons and also understand the situations she has been in.

8. After - If you want a classic, easy to read, somewhat cheesy love story then this is the perfect book for you! The first in its series, this book will introduce you to Tessa and her new friend Hardin. You will see how her life changed once she met this guy and you will fall in love with the characters.

9. Paper Towns - John Green seems to be all the rage these days and Paper Towns is another book that perfectly display his intelligence. Q and Margo are quite the pair in the story and they have experienced quite a lot together. This book will take you through their experiences as you read and you will quickly become entranced.

10. Dark Places - If mysteries or chiller stories are more your style then definitely pick up Darn Places by Gillian Flynn. If you have read Gone Girl then you know sort of what to expect, but if not you will begin questioning your own sanity as you read each page of this book.