2016 was a year to remember. When we’re all looking back on this eventful year and telling our grandchildren about the shenanigans that went on we’ll retell stories of injustice against gorillas, an angry orange man running away with the presidential race, Cam Newton Dabbing all over the NFL, and the death of countless beloved celebrities. If anything, 2016 was an experience, and with experience comes wisdom. From my experiences in 2016, I will be making one crucial New Year’s resolution, and I urge anyone who can relate to this to do the same.

Resolution: Self Care

When we think of Self-Care our minds often drift to the bare essentials. We wake up, take a shower, put on deodorant, and brush our teeth. At night we wash our face, brush our teeth again, and do whatever other Self-Care rituals we may have. While these are the things that are often associated with Self-Care, 2016 has taught me that this concept goes far beyond these basic steps to hygiene we’ve hopefully been mastering since childhood. Self-Care requirements differ from person to person, and it took me testing my limits throughout 2016 to learn mine, but after this grueling year, I’ve learned that I am so much more confident with my position in life when I am regularly exercising, finding time to myself, and using that time to create. I tried to take a semester away from the gym to focus on my studies in 2016, but what ended up happening was me wasting the time I had previously spent working out on activities that kept my development as a man stagnant. Aside from the confidence boost working out provided me, I also felt more energetic and disciplined when I was lifting daily. Going forward I now know that spending time facilitating my physical fitness isn’t time away from studying and other priorities, but instead simply time I need to take care of myself.

A majority of the time I spent away from the gym in 2016 was used to hang out with my friends, and while I’ve undoubtedly formed countless bonds over the course of this year that I will remember fondly for the rest of my life, at times I let these relationships get the best of me. It seemed as though I was constantly surrounded with people. While that may not sound too bad for some, this experience taught me that I will go insane without alone time. I’ve learned that I need a few hours a day to think, reflect, and most importantly create. This time to myself provides me with an opportunity to address whatever demons may be plaguing my mind, and the chance to work out the emotions in my head into something tangible such as a poem, a drawing, or a home cooked meal.

Finding your limits is easier said than done. It took me a long time to realize what I need to do in order to take care of myself and facilitate my progression into adulthood properly. Even still, I urge anyone who may relate to this to continue living life at the edge of your comfort zone, trying new things, and ultimately learning about yourself to help learn what you need to do take care of yourself. Don’t do it for your friends, for your family, for your class-mates, make the resolution of Self-Care for you.