Psychology student Aneekha shares her tips for a new year:
As we start the beginning of 2022, it seems only natural to talk about new year celebrations, and of course, resolutions. However, before I start talking about my resolutions, and other similar ideas, we should acknowledge the fact that we made it through this year. Although it has been two years since we have been this pandemic, the everchanging rules and restrictions continue to impact all of us. Therefore, it is important to remember that resolutions do not mean changing your entire life, and no one should put extra pressure on themselves to become “better”.
However, there are a few small things that we can all incorporate to encourage consistency and maintain a positive wellbeing.
1: Getting enough sleep
It might be surprising to some, but many forget about the importance of sleep. Take advantage of the holidays, when there are less deadlines, to create a healthier sleep schedule. Once you start, it will be a lot easier to maintain even when the semester starts again!
If falling asleep is hard for you, I would suggest some scented oils, or having a hot bath before bed to help relax you. These are just small little tools that will help you get into a much healthier habit.
2: Eating a balanced diet
The holiday season is known to be a time to indulge, enjoy and have fun, which should not change. However, during university it is easy to forget meals, or rely on Deliveroo a little too heavily. Use this extra time to pick up a new recipe which you can use at university, or even practice meal prepping to see what works for you! If cooking isn’t for you, try some of the University food options. They tend to be a bit healthier and cheaper as well, as they are made for students. There is a lot of variety as well, so I would recommend looking at the options that we have on campus too!
However, it is important to note that this is not encouraging a crazy diet, or change in lifestyle. Make sure that there is a balance, and that the foods that you are eating make you feel good.
3: Exercise
Another common resolution is to exercise more. This could be in the form of hitting a new personal record, running an extra kilometre, or just going to the gym more regularly.
The most important thing is to find what works for you, because that will keep you motivated and will keep you consistent. A great place to explore this would be at university. The University of Bath is well known for its renowned facilities, from an Olympic Sized swimming pool to a multi-floor gym, there is something for everyone.
One thing that can deter people is the price of membership, but there are actually a lot of free opportunities that you can take advantage of, such as joining a sports club, or Bath Active, a social sport programme which are currently running regular running sessions and yoga classes.
4: Budgeting
Many also want to work on their money spending habits as we enter the new year. For students, this could mean looking out for more discounts, or maybe making a few long term changes.
If you are looking for more helpful tips that would be more relevant for your particular situations, I would recommend reaching out to the Student Money Advice Team. They have more resources that are tailored for students.
5: More academic motivation
Lastly, many students struggle with consistency and motivation throughout the year, and many set new academic goals at the beginning of the year.
To make sure that you are improving and growing as a student, I would encourage forming study groups, creating stronger relationships with your professors, asking for more feedback, and implementing the changes.
Of course, if you feel like you are struggling and need extra support in a certain area, you should check out the academic support that the University has to offer, from special skill support to one on one feedback on pieces of writing.
Make sure that you take advantage of everything that the University has to offer so that you can achieve or even exceed your expectations for this new year.
However, I would also like to remind you that just getting through this year is an incredible achievement, and resolutions should be a fun and relaxed way to incorporate some healthy habits into your lifestyle.
Overall, I would like to wish you all a happy new year! Hopefully these tips will be helpful, and you can use them to maintain consistency and keep to your resolutions.
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