The idea of reinventing yourself completely might be one of the biggest clichés that ringing in the new year brings. Gym memberships are purchased, diets are started, and with each new year, resolutions are made in hopes of keeping.
There’s nothing like Jan. 1 at the gym: all the machines are taken, people come out of the woodwork just to fulfill their resolutions, when in reality the regulars know it’ll only last a week.
Making realistic resolutions seems to be the issue for most of society, because keeping them is the tough part.
Casey Hanna, a senior history and secondary education student, shared her resolution for 2017. “With field hockey, taking care of body and my health became less of a priority then it should be. For the new year I’m prioritizing myself and my needs.
With field hockey ending for me, I’m able to take care of my body, and do yoga or exercises that make me feel good.”
Hanna continued, “Eating healthy is another one of my major resolutions. Sure, everyone says they want to ‘eat healthy.’ but then give up soon after. I want to have healthy weeks, and then indulge in things I like on the weekends. Meal prepping is also becoming such a big part of my weekly routine already, and its definitely making a difference.”
By preparing a week’s amount of lunches and dinners, you’ll have more time in the week for working out or getting work done, and you’ll be less tempted to order take out when you know you have food waiting for you at home.
Rachel Konowal, a junior communication student, has a more academically oriented resolution for the semester. “I need to become more organized, so my resolution for this year is to plan and start everything in advance. I felt like last semester I got so caught up with school that I was leaving homework assignments until the last minute, when in reality I had the whole semester.”
Konowal said she aims to do her homework when it is assigned, rather than the night before it is due. “Staying organized and on top of work is so important and so far, with the first week of school out of the way, I already feel more prepared and ready for the semester.”
Amanda Kuperavage,the Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Performance, explained that her resolution is to be more present. “Whether it’s a conversation, a relationship or friendship, a workout, or even just sitting on the beach, I want to be more engaged in what is happening around me. I want to be able to give full attention to things I’m doing instead of always feeling like I have to multitask,” she said.
Being more ‘in the moment’ is not the only facet of Kuperavage’s resolution. She said, “Another huge part of my resolution is to not allow past occurrences or future worries to take away from the present situation I’m in.
It’s easy to worry about things that haven’t happened yet, or go into situations with a preconceived idea on how things are going to go, but they inhibit what’s happening at that moment.”
It is easy to take relationships and interactions for granted, but it’s most important to be present.
We all have things that we could do better, and the new ringing in of the new year is just a small reminder to start the fresh 365 on a good note. The Monmouth community, so far, is starting 2017 on the best note possible.
IMAGE TAKEN from pexels.com
