With the new year upon us, it's easy to get into that "bright, shiny, new, optimistic" attitude towards everything. That being said, we all know from last year's experience that that is not going to last. Here are three goals we all set that only a (very) small percentage of us keep at all year (but don't worry, I have some ideas on how to help):
1. You're finally getting on that diet (spring break, anyone?)
THE DILEMMA: We all really do want to do this, but pizza. Especially as college kids, we just can't seem to give it up. Honestly, as a college student, this ultimately comes down to a matter of convenience. Even though as freshmen (and most sophomores as well) we don't even have kitchens, let me lay out this scenario for you: it's 8 p.m. and you've found a good place to stop in your slaving away. You come to the realization that you haven't eaten since 7:50 a.m. when you choked down a protein bar on your way to that 8 a.m. on the other side of campus. You are so hungry, and you're remembering that your mom taught you how to make this chicken and pasta dish that you're craving hardcore. But then you remember that you have no stove, no fridge large enough to host enough ingredients for a full meal, no pots and pans, no groceries, no money, no true ability to cook, no dishwasher, no table to eat at, and absolutely no more motivation. Pizza delivery is sounding like a really, really nice idea right about now. We'll think something along the lines of "Hey, what the hell. I'm only in college once; I should be able to eat whatever I want and not worry about it at this age," and that's pretty much all the discussion there will be.
THE SOLUTION: Although it is tempting and cheap to just get that pizza, there are so many easy foods you can make with just a fridge and a microwave (bonus if you have an actual kitchen, which I do not). Make a physical (recommended) or mental list of things you are willing to eat and have the ability to make. For example, two of my favorite things to eat for lunch are beans and sweet potatoes. It is UNBELIEVABLE how easy these things are. You can get a can of beans, drain them, microwave them, and put them in a bowl with salsa, cheese, ketchup, or whatever your heart desires. You can stick a sweet potato in the microwave (after you wash it and poke a bunch of holes into it) for six minutes and, if you want, put brown sugar in it or salt and pepper or whatever sounds good. Finding the time to plan ahead is really the determining factor in the solution to this problem. However, bad food can be good for the soul, so it's okay to order that pizza every once in a while.
2. Along with our new, healthy diet, we're definitely making it to the gym every day of the week.
THE DILEMMA: So, you hop up out of bed ready to run a marathon. You take one look outside and slide right back into bed.. You'll try again tomorrow. This one is a kicker, because there is just so much work involved. You have to drag yourself out of bed, force down a somewhat nutritious breakfast, get all decked out in your gear and drive/walk to the gym. I'm not sure about y'all, but I have already worked up a decent sweat before I even make it to the gym. What if some cute guy sees you looking like a freaking idiot trying to do some new exercise machine that looks pretty dangerous? At this point, you're thinking that you are a hazard to yourself and everyone else in the building, and it's probably time to hang up the hat. Not to mention, after the gym, you have to get undressed (peeling sweaty clothing off of your body is not a task for the faint of heart), take a shower, get dressed AGAIN, and be ready for the rest of the day. Can we go back to bed yet, please? I'm sure Beyonce takes sick days sometimes, so I think it's okay if we do too.
THE SOLUTION: If you can spend the extra cash, get a trainer or sign up for a class at your gym. This will hold you accountable to someone other than yourself and make it harder for you to NOT go. If you are on a tight budget, consider finding a friend to go to the gym with; same idea as having a trainer, except it is beneficial for both of you to hold each other accountable, and it's free! Be sure to go when you have enough time to do so, don't try to cram in a workout if you only have an hour between classes or work. You won't be focused and you might end up hurting yourself from trying to do something too quickly. If you're having trouble coming up with things to do, there are millions of websites (bodybuilding.com is my personal favorite) that have all kinds of free workout plans that you can follow and adjust to fit your personal needs.
3. You're gonna sign up for this club and that organization and earn that position and they're going to write books one day trying to figure out how you did it all.
THE DILEMMA: The picture for this one is kind of self-explanatory. Although being perpetually lazy is awful and society will basically shun you if you act as such, being overly ambitious also has some serious repercussions. You sign up for everything you can fit your name on, dreaming about your future and how you'll be famous and the leader of the free world. But reality sets in, and you're late to every meeting the first week, you get names confused and, well, everyone kind of thinks you're either careless or insane. Pretty soon you aren't sleeping, eating, or doing much of anything that you can enjoy. Or, you just give up on ALL of your responsibilities and bury yourself in your bed, never to be seen or heard from again.
THE SOLUTION: While my other two solutions to these common problems are fairly straightforward, this solution is a little more subjective. If you are someone who can handle the stress and workload of being a part of 10 organizations and three clubs and a sports team, then I applaud you and think you should be writing this instead of me. However, if you are not a superhuman, it's okay, because you do not have to be. Before you get anywhere near a sign up sheet, make/look at your calendar. If that club meets on Tuesday nights but you have math tutoring that night, it probably isn't a good idea for you to sign up. That being said, if you are just hellbent on joining it, email someone involved and ask around about other opportunities to get involved with them even though the meeting time does not fit in your schedule. Remember: it's always better to do one thing extremely well with all your heart and soul than it is to half-ass five things. At that point, it is obvious that you are not passionate about the activities themselves, just the idea of being able to tell people you are really involved (if you have any time left to speak to other people).
