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My 2019 Resolutions for University

Date:22 January 2019
New Years Resolutions
New Years Resolutions

It’s already been more than a week since I’ve been back in Groningen and to be honest, it was quite a hectic start as the block is just ending which means a lot of final exams and assignments. Yet, I am happy to be back at UCG with all my friends and I’m excited for all the events, trips, and new experiences and challenges that will be coming up this year. However, I expect this year to be different in terms of stress management and positive attitudes as I came up with some resolutions for the New Year. Usually, I don’t believe in the concept of “New Year, new me” but this year in Malawi I’ve realized that the place should not determine whether I’m relaxed, happy or successful. Instead, I can take a more active role and change my lifestyle for the better. Here’s five of the things I’m planning to introduce into my daily life:

1. Lots of positive energy

Fear intimidates, positive energy empowers. If you’re afraid of failing, you won’t live to your full potential. Especially at Uni, I tend to doubt myself a lot and I’m sure I’m not alone there. Starting papers and essays can often be frustrating: You don’t know how to grasp the topic or where to start. It’s easy to end up in a feedback loop of negativity. My advice: Put on a good song and let the ideas flow and find a way to connect whatever you are studying to the topics you are passionate about. Most important: Be confident and give yourself credit for all the things you achieve

2. If it fulfills you, then you’re not wasting any time

So often I find myself doing something that I find fulfilling but nevertheless feeling guilty because there’s a voice in my head telling me I should be doing something else. I’ve realized this attitude only leaves me frustrated, feeling like I’m not doing anything with commitment. That doesn’t mean to neglect Uni, it only means that we can allow ourselves to switch off one thing to do the other, so structure set times dedicated for studying or leisure. Most importantly, you should always ask yourself the question: Does it take energy from you or does it give you energy? Usually, if you can answer this question without hesitation, then you know what activities to cut down on and what to invest time in.

3. Organize…

I’ve procrastinated it long enough but now I’ve realized, only a tiny bit of organization can make life so much easier. My first step? I’ve bought a little book, like a diary, which I’m going to take along wherever I go so I can write down important stuff. If it’s internet-pages, names, E-mail addresses, errands or you walk past somebody’s garden and feel inspired by it’s decorations and want to document it. Our brains have to process so much information every day, we cannot expect to memorize all those things as well.

4. Look after the soul

In Malawi, I’ve made it a habit to start or end the day with a session of Yoga or meditation. Of course the site of the lake and the pink sky also catalysed the effect, I want to incorporate it into my daily routine here in Groningen as well. Life sometimes goes in a faster pace than we can keep up with it. We’re sitting in the lecture and already thinking about the next assignment or errand we have to run, or you’re at a social gathering and already getting stressed about the next deadline. The healing power of Yoga lies in it’s slow movements and when meditating, you train to free yourself from thoughts that might be burdening you for a few moments. It really pays off as afterwards you’ll have regained energy and feel refreshed again to study or do other things.

5. Study in a good atmosphere

As I could not completely neglect my courses during the holiday, I had to do some readings here and then in Malawi. Yet, I realized that it makes an incredible difference if you’re sitting in a camping chair underneath a palm-tree with a smoothie and some reggae tunes in the background. The effect? Happy hormones! You actually get a lot done and atmospheres like those help me to be much more creative. So for now, if the atmosphere in the Library becomes to stress-laden, I’ll just migrate to probably my favourite Café in Groningen: The Uurwerker.