We can finally put 2016 behind us and move on towards a bigger and brighter year for 2017. It's pretty easy to say that 2016 offered a lot of great moments, but also unexpectedly took a lot with it as well. As a whole, the year was filled with high peaks with astonishing and tear-jerking moments from the Summer Olympics, the surprising results of the U.S Presidential election, to the numerous losses of lovable celebrity icons and tragic events that struck the nation as a whole. Individually, for those of you reading this, you might have gone through some serious changes, or maybe you graduated (or are about to graduate) from college, or travelled, got married. Perhaps you lost a loved one or have gone through some gut wrenching rejections. If anything, the biggest take away from this last year is that life is full of rejections, and that you are not always going to have things go your way. There are moments, especially in your 20's when you are trying to figure out who you are as a person, that you have to experience the highs and lows before you can completely decide what you want to do with your life. As I write this, I am not only writing it as resolutions for myself, but I also want you reading this to take time to appreciate this last semester before you walk across the stage to receive your diploma. So if you are a senior getting ready to graduate from college this year, here are four New Years' Resolutions that you should try to follow.
1. Organize Your Life and Future
The end of college is approaching, so it's important to set goals for yourself in order for your life to move forward to the next phase. Make to-do-lists, have a planner, be LESS messy and MORE productive. For these last set of classes, work your butt off and aim to get straight A's this semester. Make a thorough plan with how you will approach this spring, as well as figuring out what steps you need to accomplish set career goals after you graduate.
2. Spend Less Money
This is a tough one for me to accomplish personally (shopping addiction and all), but I am actually planning on being smart about my money and trying not to spend it on things I don't need. Perhaps it's time to start listening to your parents and actually put your money into your savings account. Every now and then you can treat yourself, but try not to do it too much. Your wallet will thank you later!
3. Live in the Moment
Sure you can take photos and videos, but wait to post them later. The memory will still be there, but the moment will come and go, so make sure you take time to appreciate it, instead of having others appreciate it the moment you post it. The more you appreciate something, the less you will take it for granted.
4. Make Time for Yourself
This is a no brainer, but sometimes it can actually be really hard to completely decompress from an exhausting day. Even when we're mind numbingly watching a random TV show, we can't help but go through the millions of thoughts that are passing through our mind as well. Remember to always set aside a time where you don't have to think about any responsibilities. Once the relaxation period has passed, then you can go back to stressing.