What a strange year it has been, and it goes without saying that we are all ready to move on from 2016!  Keep a positive mindset to kick off the year by making some great New Year resolutions.  Check out some of our favorites to get you started!

Academic Resolutions

While these may not be the most exciting type of resolutions they are ones you should consider.  If you’re drawing a blank to get you started on some academic resolutions here are a few to consider:

Actually try to attend class:  You’ve already managed to get out of bed to go to class, one that you may be perfectly capable of infrequently attending and passing, but maybe the start to the new semester should involve making an effort attend class each week and to even arrive on time.  Classes—college degrees—are expensive.  Get your money’s worth by showing up and being prepared.  This means bring your textbooks, having a way to take notes, and most importantly, paying attention.

Get your work done early or on-time:  This may sound completely unrealistic, but if you look back at your time in school, when have you been the most stressed?  I am sure plenty of you are with me when I say that it was more than likely during a time when you waited until the last minute to finish a paper or project.  Or when finals week comes up trying to then study a semester's worth of information.  Make this the year you get stuff done.  No more putting off homework or studying.

Create a schedule:  Planners are not very expensive and most of the time, those few dollars can go a long way into helping you get into a good routine or helping you keep track of any clubs or sports you may be apart of.  Try different methods.  If a planner doesn't work there are plenty of other options such as handwriting out your schedule on a desk calendar or apps for iPhones and Androids that will help you to get things organized!

Health Resolutions

Many people tend to consider making resolutions to better their health and while they are always made with good intentions, they are at times the hardest resolutions to keep.  Here are some suggestions to keep you on target for 2017:

Sleep:  Do your best to make a goal of getting a certain amount of hours of sleep each night.  Being specific about your goals will help you make your resolutions more tangible.  And while college life is hard and often sleep deprived, making sure you get enough sleep each night is critical for your long-term success and health!

Exercise:  While finding time to exercise in college--even for 30 minutes--can seem impossible for many students, it's important to try to incorporate physical activity into your routine.  After all, those 30 minutes at the gym can give you more energy throughout the day (and week).  If you aren't one for going to the gym, try to join an intramural sports team or find a friend to go on a run with you around campus!

Eat Better:  College life is notorious for its unhealthy food options: greasy dining hall food, bad delivery, ramen noodles, and pizza everywhere.  Make a goal to add something healthy at each meal, like at least one serving of fruits or vegetables.  Or cut out (or at least down) on your soda and caffeine intake, so that you'll sleep better at night.  No matter what you add or switch, doing little changes every time you eat can make a big difference for you in 2017 to living a much healthier lifestyle.

Financial Resolutions

I may not be an expert in finances, but I can tell you from experience that financial debt is not fun.  If you think the stress of finishing a final paper is stressful, stress caused by debt takes it to a whole other level.  Do yourself a favor and promise yourself to manage your money.

Put Your Credit Cards Away:  Don't use a credit card for things you want, only use it for things you need.  The last thing you want in college is to be saddled with credit card debt and the accompanying monthly payment you're required to make.  Be very strict about your credit card use and only use it when it's absolutely necessary for things you need such as books for class, food, gas, or rent.

Save, save save:  Put money away.  If there's one lesson that my dad wanted me and my siblings to learn from him during college it was learning how to save money for when you really need it.  Only within the last year since graduating have I really began to see how important this truly is.  Challenge yourself to put away as much money as you can afford to.  For me I challenged myself $50 dollars each week put away somewhere I could not easily access it.  I found that PNC's Virtual Wallet works out really well for me and if you haven't already taken advantage of the free gift when you set up a bank account with PNC using your JSM VIP card then what are you waiting for?  Take advantage of an easy bank account that allows you the ability to move money from your "spend" wallet and into your "reserve" account so you can begin to building a savings and earn interest on money you put away.  It definitely comes in handy if you get into a car accident, need groceries, or want to take a trip up to Chicago to see the city.

Social Resolutions

Between attending class, working out, and keeping a schedule, you may be rolling your eyes at me as I say you should try to squeeze some social resolutions into your new year with all the others.  Spending time with people within and outside of your college life is important and even if you don't think you can balance all these things, trust me, you can.  Because that planner I know you're going to run out and get at Target as soon as you're done reading this blog is what is going to help you keep everything organized!

Get out of your box:  Spend time with people outside of your college friends.  Granted, this may need to be done electronically, but it's important. Spend time Skyping with friends who you don't get to see every day.  Maybe even pick up the phone and call your family to see how things are back home.  While your college life may be all consuming now, it will be over before you know it and the relationships you've kept with the non-college people in your life will be important once you're officially a college graduate.

Try something new:  Chances are, there are things happening on your campus 24/7.  And many of them are on topics or involve activities that you're not at all familiar with.  Challenge yourself a little to try something totally new at least once a month.  Attend a lecture, expand your taste buds (using your JSM VIP card!), or venture off of campus to see what the rest of Champaign is like.  You might be surprised at how much you enjoy yourself!

Give back:  Volunteer at least once a week.  It's so easy to get caught up in the little bubble that is your school.  Stress over papers, the lack of sleep, and frustration with everything from friends to finances can quickly consume both your mind and spirit.  Volunteering offers you a chance to give back while also helping you keep things in perspective.

Ultimately, 2017 is a fresh slate.  Use this time to cut back on bad habits, create rewarding routines and connect with a wide array of new people!  Happy holidays from JSM!