17 Inspiring New Year Resolutions for Students Perfect for Your College Goals

This post is about New Year resolutions for students. 

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The New Year is one of college student’s favorite times. You’re just finishing up with break, you’re likely at home visiting family and old friends, and you’re gearing up for the next semester.

Like most college students, you’re probably thinking of a few ways you can improve yourself before the next semester begins. Luckily, the New Year is the perfect time to integrate these positive habits.

This post shows you the most inspiring New Year resolutions for students. As a student, I can attest to how achievable and realistic these goals are! When going into a new semester, it is so important to start off on the right foot. One of the best ways to do this is to come up with New Year resolution ideas for students! 

Here are 17 creative New Years resolution ideas for students. 

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR STUDENTS

PICK UP A SIDE JOB 

Odds are, you are a college student that’s a little strapped for money. We all are! There’s tons of jobs you can do online, and you can always pick up work serving on a weekend. If you find a substantial amount of extra time on your hands, make money out of it! 

EAT 3 HEALTHY MEALS A DAY, PLUS SNACKS 

You will be shocked at how much of a difference this makes in your day. Plus, this is a super easy resolution to integrate into your daily routine. If you have trouble planning ahead for meals, try out meal planning, where you make all of your food for the week on one day, and then just reheat it. This isn’t for everyone, but it sure makes planning a lot easier. 

FOCUS ON LEARNING, NOT MEMORIZING 

As you continue with your college education, it is vital that you begin to actually learn the materials, and not simply memorize them. For some intro level college classes you can get away with memorization, but as your education gets more and more complex it is crucial that you fully understand the material you are learning. 

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NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR STUDENTS: SLEEP 7-9 HOURS EVERY NIGHT 

When I talk to college students (aka my friends haha) they say that their sleep schedules really determine how well they are doing in school. This being said, it’s crucial that you set that same sleep and wake time every day – even the weekends. It’s hard at first, but you’ll get the hang of it and be much more productive during the day. 

To help my sleep cycle, I got a sunshine alarm clock. If you’re someone who lives in an area that’s dark later into the morning, this clock will be a lifesaver for you! Plus, it’s super budget-friendly. 

DON’T OVERWORK YOURSELF 

Every college student falls into the habit of trying to just too much. There’s always something going on. While FOMO is totally valid, make sure that you are picking and choosing what is most important to you, and prioritize accordingly. 

SCHEDULE SELF-CARE TIME 

Self-care needs to be a priority for every college student. Self-care allows your body and mind to be taken care of, which is extremely overlooked in college. There are so  many forms of self-care. Find some that work for you, and integrate them into your schedule. Self-care is the perfect achievable New Year resolution for students! 

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NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR STUDENTS: PREPARE FOR EXAM SUCCESS 

Reflect on your previous semester and figure out what made it so you needed to cram before exams. Avoid these things at all cost! Setting yourself up for exam success is vital to making sure you have a successful semester. 

Preparing for this success is the perfect creative New Year resolution, since it is something that you can integrate into your daily schedule.

EXERCISE FOR 30 MINUTES DAILY 

When I say “exercise,” I really mean just get your body moving. By no means do you have to go to a gym or complete some intense work out. Take a nice walk, do some yoga, attend a kickboxing class, really whatever works for you. The important thing is to dedicate a small amount of time to taking care of yourself physically. 

BALANCE WORK, SCHOOL, AND SOCIAL LIFE 

We talked earlier about the business of college. Before you even start your semester, set yourself up for a nice balance. Understand that you need to be able to enjoy yourself and not work constantly. Prioritize this if you can! Unfortunately, not everyone has the funds to work less. If this is the case, consider taking a lighter class load. It’s all about balance! 

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NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR STUDENTS: LEARN SOMETHING NEW 

Learning something new doesn’t have to just be academic related. I’m sure you learn tons of new things from Tik Tok! Read about something you’re interested in, ask a professor in your major what they’re currently researching, or visit a local museum. Engage your brain! 

CUT DOWN ON CAFFEINE 

Now that you’re sleeping 7-9 hours a night (or you will be soon) consider cutting down on the caffeine. Caffeine addictions are really difficult to overcome, so be patient with yourself and take it slowly. Remember, there are always other ways to give yourself an energy boost, like taking a brisk walk. 

READ ONE BOOK A MONTH, JUST FOR FUN 

Remember when you had time to just read for fun? Prioritize that again! To get started, pick out a book or series that you already know you love. For me, I always read the Harry Potter series when I know that I need a break. Reading regularly helps you relax, and improves your grammar and vocabulary. In other words, reading helps you get better grades! 

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NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR STUDENTS: SAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH WEEK 

If you are able, set aside a certain amount of money each week. This can really just be whatever you can afford. For some, this may be $150, others, $20. Either way, you’re saving for upcoming expenses. You’re taking care of your future self, now! 

ONLY “GO OUT” 1-2 TIMES PER WEEK 

“Going out” can refer to a huge party, or getting lunch with friends. Either way, try to limit this. Know that there is always something going on in college, and prioritize accordingly. I find that when I turn some events down to prioritize something else, I start to understand what’s important to me. 

CLEAN AS YOU GO 

While seeming easy on the surface, this is something that can be really difficult for college students. The idea of this New Year resolution for students is that you put things away as soon as you take them out. For example, you would never have clothes on your floor, and there would never be dirty dishes in the sink. Cleaning as you go saves you time in the long run, but can be difficult to achieve right away. Be patient with yourself if you tackle this unique New Years resolution! 

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NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR STUDENTS: REVIEW ALL CLASS MATERIALS WEEKLY 

I cover this goal in more detail in my post on how to study in college, but the idea is you’re always studying the material that you’ve learned in class. This is as easy as just reviewing your notebook for the class once a week, every week, for every class. When tests roll around, you’re set up for success! 

SPEND LESS, GATHER MORE EXPERIENCES

Lots of Freshman in college will spend tons of money on experiences. Uber rides, alcohol, and eating out cost a ton of money. Focus on spending less money, but that doesn’t mean you have to cut down on the experiences. Get creative, and spend time making memories and saving your wallet. 

THIS POST SHOWED YOU 17 CREATIVE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS FOR STUDENTS.