New year! New me?
Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.
Dylan Hostetter, Opinions Editor
It’s not only the beginning of a new year but also a new semester. Many students are returning bright-eyed and bushy-tailed from their time at home, ready to tackle their new schedules, while others may find themselves dreading the return to campus.
For those who do find themselves in a less-than-positive mindset, I believe there are steps that can be taken to ensure a positive and healthy spring semester. Though it may be a bit cliché, let us call them “New Year’s Resolutions.”
Mental Health
While it’s easy to let the stresses of a new semester and new schedule overwhelm you, there are steps you can take to keep your mental health in check. January is the month of mental wellness after all, so let that take priority and make a promise to yourself to take your mental health seriously.
Starting a meditation routine is a great way to keep your sanity in check. Take just a few minutes away from that essay to sit in silence and clear your mind. Not only will this calm you down, but it may even open your mind enough to lead to a breakthrough in that thesis.
Find a study buddy. Isolating yourself with your work only increases the weight of all of your responsibilities. Forming a study group, whether that be roommates or classmates, can help lift that weight and give you someone to not only bounce ideas off of but share the stress with.
No matter your schedule, you will find yourself with some free time. Instead of aimlessly scrolling through your phone, take the time to commit to a hobby. Learn to crochet — make a blanket or hat. If you must be on your phone, learn a new language through one of many apps. In the end, accomplishing something outside of your academic pursuits will not only make you a more well-rounded person but also fill you with a sense of satisfaction.
Organize your space. Whether you live in a dorm or apartment, clutter is harmful to your mental well-being. A clean space is a clean mind after all. Take that pile of dirty clothes and put them in a hamper. While you’re at it, take that pile of clean clothes and fold it!
Physical Health
Just because many people use the excuse of the new year to commit to a gym routine doesn’t mean that you can’t do the same. Every student has access to the Cary Street Gym, so why not use it?
Time at the gym is a good way to clear your mind. You are one scan away from not only breaking a sweat but breaking through all of your stresses about your packed schedule. If you feel uncomfortable working out in public, there are plenty of alternative at-home workouts that will get the job done.
Promise yourself that you’ll eat at restaurants other than Chick-fil-A. Look, I get it, their chicken sandwich is the best thing you’ve ever tasted but there are plenty of fantastic restaurants waiting around every corner in Richmond, so check them out!
A healthy eating habit is just that — healthy. I’m sorry, but the two pickles on that chicken sandwich don’t count as your vegetables for the week. Committing to more health-conscious meals not only aids your physical fitness but also — you guessed it — helps your mental health too.
Now, I’m not going to throw all of these resolutions your way without following some of them myself — that would make me a hypocrite. I plan to start a meditation routine and diversify my meals beyond chicken sandwiches and apple juice. It’ll be hard, but in the end, it’ll be good for me.
Don’t ask me to hit the gym though, I’m saving that resolution for 2025.
