Another year, another semester, another opportunity
The beginning of the year brings a new semester. I am a sophomore in college. Winter break is officially over. I have moved back in my dorm, unpacked everything, and hung up all the decorations. Although I love decorating my room and seeing all my friends, I am less than excited about starting more classes. I still feel like I have not recovered from last semester, but you have to keep moving forward. After some thinking, I knew I had to do something to get me out of the new semester funk. I came up with 5 small things that I can do to make me feel better about starting a new semester and going back to work. I thought maybe some of these things could be helpful for someone else.
1 Redecorating:
If you live in dorm like I do, the addition of a couple pieces of new décor can really brighten your day. I love adding new things to my room. It makes me feel that there is a positive change. I added some fairy lights that hold pictures, a Winnie the Pooh painting, and another Winnie the Pooh painting with a quote that is on a record. I love Winnie the Pooh if you could not tell. Also, I moved a couple of things around in my room. When you change the layout of a room, it feels like a whole new space. Although I cannot change the entire layout of my room, the small adjustments, that most people would not notice, make me feel like it is a little different.
2 A massive clean out:
I am sure that I am not the only person who enjoys a freshly cleaned home. For me, a cleaned house is so peaceful and relaxing. As soon as I got back to my dorm, my friend and I cleaned our entire apartment. Now, it feels amazing, because there is no clutter and everything is organized and put away. In addition, it is better for one’s personal health to have a sound mind. The decision to make a better lifestyle and environment for yourself will be very beneficial. There is nothing wrong with taking some personal time to yourself and doing the things that you want to do. In the end, the personal time you set aside for yourself and the people you love can lead to better, healthier memories. If one of your new year to dos or resolutions is to get organized, then what better way to get organized by cleaning and throwing away all the things you do not need, mentally and physically.
3 Plan an experience:
Of course, the best thing to do is live in moment, but planning is very beneficial for a successful experience. Whether it is big or small, every person should have something to work towards for the year. All work and no play can lead to an unfulfilling life. There is nothing worse than putting in a lot of effort with nothing to work towards. It could be as big as a vacation somewhere or as small as spending the day at the park. Whether it is going hiking, doing a DIY project or going to the movies, this time that is set aside for pure entertainment can make everything else worth it.
4 Find a side project:
With all the stressful things that we encounter every day, we need an escape to our happy place. One of those ways can be through a project that we enjoy. With the endless possibilities of creation, there is something for everyone. One of my goals for the year is to start playing guitar. Also, I plan to help one of my friends make some décor for her room. The idea is to find something that can take away at least a little bit of stress and allow you to put your energy into something positive. Playing sports, exercising, making crafts, doing music, and cooking are just a few examples of the things that are out there. The best part is there is an abundance of activities to do and create. Through doing these projects, you can learn more about yourself and what you are capable of doing.
5 Feeling your best:
I think this is one of the most important factors because you cannot have a successful semester, month, or even year if you do not feel your best. Everyone’s best is different depending on their life situations. Nonetheless, every person has a particular best that can allow them to be successful. Also, everyone has a certain thing that can take them to their happy place. Although we may not know exactly what it is, the possibilities are endless. For instances, the night before my first week back at school, I took a shower, put on a face mask, did my nails, and watched some Netflix’s. I had the earliest night I have had in a while, which is one in the morning. I did not have wake up until 10, so it worked out. Of course, a good night’s sleep is the best way to be ready for any event. All in all, it could be really helpful to find something relaxing to calm your worries and stress. In the end, it can result in a better mindset and outlook.
Hopefully, there was something useful in these tips that I use. If not, there is an endless selection of things that you could do to help prepare for a New Year or college semester. If you have any particular things that you do, then certainly leave them down below, so I can try them out myself. Thanks for reading and cheers to a great start to the year!