Published: 27 December 2019
Keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions is difficult when you’re spending your days cramming for exams and writing essays. Breaking resolutions, whether that’s eating less chocolate or going to the gym more, has become something of a tradition itself. But not to worry, we’re here to help with our top university resolutions and how to keep them.
1) Learn something new
Learning is the main thing you do at university, of course. Each day you’re in class you’re, hopefully, picking up some new information. But part of being a student is having the opportunity to expand your knowledge in ways you haven’t anticipated. We recommend upping your skills with one of our free courses. The Business Enterprise Certificate helps students take their business ideas further, whilst the Digital Media Marketing course is an eight-week crash course in speaking with an online audience. Or if you want to learn more about what it takes to become a project manager, consider our Project Management Short Course.
Keep that resolution: Signing up to a programme can give you the push to learn something new. Attending classes, meeting new people and working towards a goal are all great ways to make sure you keep your resolution.
2) Put your hand up in class more
Participating in class can be nerve-wracking. It’s easier to rely on the reading materials, or hope someone else asks that question you’ve got in your head. But the best way to get the most out of your degree is by taking an active role in it. Don’t forget, everyone in your class is there to learn. So the chances are someone else will be thinking about the same question as you.
Keep that resolution: Each time you ask a question, make sure you write down the answer your lecturer gives you. If you do this each time you have a class you’ll create a habit that’s hard to break!
3) Take part in activities outside of the classroom
We have loads of things going on at the University of Sunderland in London. Whether you’re thinking about joining a student society, becoming a Student Ambassador or taking on an internship,l you’ll find something that suits you. Not only do extracurricular activities look great on your CV, but the skills you’ll learn will also help you become a more rounded, active person as well. Plus you’ll meet new people and maybe even find a new passion.
Keep that resolution: Sign up for one of our extracurricular activities and you’ll be sent regular reminders of all the things you can be doing.
4) Create a guide for your future
University, despite being a major part of your lives right now, does not last forever. That’s why it’s helpful to start thinking about your future. We don’t recommend you plan out every second of your life in detail. But having an idea of where you want to be and how you’re going to get there will help you stay on track.
Keep that resolution: Write out your end goal and work your way backwards. What do you need to get to where you want to be?
5) Stay healthy
We’re ending with a stereotypical one. Health resolutions are by far the most common that people make (and break) each year. Whether you want to drink more water, eat less fat or go for a run more often, healthy lifestyles play a huge part in your experience at university. That’s because the healthier you are, the more energy you’ll have to put into your studies.
Keep that resolution: Choose one simple thing that you can achieve and make a note of when you do it. For example if you want to run three times a week, put time aside in your diary to do it. Once you’ve done it, tick it off. If you can keep it up for 30 days you’ll develop a habit that becomes much harder to break. Find out more by following #WeAreSunLon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.