New Semester, New You!

Stefany Banda
Chi Omega

It’s the most refreshing time of the year! After a long relaxing holiday break filled with family, friends and food, it’s time to start fresh with a new semester, a new year, and essentially a new beginning to reorganize your life. It’s a great opportunity to kick your old bad habits, and set new goals to make this the best and most smooth sailing semester yet!

Kick Out Your Bad Habits

Unfortunately this means avoiding procrastination, skipping class, pulling all-nighters, “winging” exams, and those post-going out eating binges, especially the 2 a.m. pokey stick emergency delivery orders. While bending the rules is okay once in a while, starting the year off on the right foot will only set you up for a productive and overall better semester.

Set (Realistic) Goals

With everyone starting and hopefully sticking to their New Year’s Resolutions, it’s a great time of year to set new goals, whether they are short term or long term. Maybe you want to try getting a 4.0 for the spring semester, or maybe you’re going to work on getting back in shape for spring break, setting goals is a great way to be self-disciplined while working to achieve a goal.

Time Management and Prioritizing

As college students, we have a tendency for always being “too busy” to do anything, yet we find magical ways to go out almost every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and the even the occasional Tuesday Booze-day.  The truth is, there’s always next weekend, and the more you put off that paper, the more stressed you’ll be in the end. Use a calendar to keep track of everything, make time to work out or relax, plan ahead, and don’t deprive yourself of doing the things you love, otherwise the stress will get the best of you.

Try Something New

Whether it’s joining an IM team or club, or taking on a leadership position in your chapter, find ways to branch out and expand your horizons. Try not to say no to things you normally would. After all, you only live once, and these four years will fly by before you know it, so make the best out of it!

So for 2012, surround yourself with people who make you happy. Do what you love, and do it often. Cheers to 2012 and to making it the best year yet!

Stefany is a sophomore studying broadcast journalism. You may contact her at bandaste@msu.edu.