Happy new YOU – New Year's resolutions for you!

Pro list for resolutions:

• Self-improvement: resolutions offer the opportunity for personal development and self-improvement.
• Motivation: They can serve as a drive to achieve goals and track your progress.
• Focus: Resolutions help to focus on clear goals and minimise distractions.
• Health: Many resolutions include healthier habits, which can promote physical and mental health in the long term.
• A sense of achievement: Achieving resolutions leads to a sense of achievement, which can boost self-confidence.

Contra list for resolutions:

• Overwhelm: too many or too demanding resolutions can lead to overwhelm and stress.
• Self-pressure: The pressure to fulfil resolutions can cause stress and lead to disappointment if they are not achieved.
• Time commitment: The realisation of resolutions requires time and commitment, which can be difficult for some in stressful phases of life.
• Frustration at failure: Failure to achieve resolutions can lead to frustration and a sense of failure.
• Long-term nature: Many resolutions are made in the short term, but maintaining them in the long term can be a challenge.

Here are seven examples of resolutions you could make for new year:

1. Time management: Make a resolution to use your time more efficiently. Create a timetable to define your lectures, study times and leisure activities. Prioritise your tasks and avoid procrastinating to be more productive.
2. Study habits: Make sure you develop sustainable study habits. Find out which methods work best for you, whether it's creating summaries, solving exercises or working in study groups. Set realistic learning goals and stay disciplined.
3. Healthy lifestyle: Take care of your physical and mental health. Sufficient exercise, a balanced diet and enough sleep are extremely important. Also try to consciously make time for relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga to reduce stress and promote your mental health.
4. Study environment and organisation: Create a clear workspace, whether at home or in the library. Tidy your documents and notes and stay organised. Reduce distractions, for example by switching your smartphone to flight mode when you are studying.
5. Participation in your studies: Get actively involved in your studies. Attend lectures and seminars, take part in discussions and ask questions. Look for opportunities to expand your knowledge through internships, student projects or research work.
6. Networking and career planning: Use the time during your studies to make contacts and build your professional network. Attend career events and talks by professionals. Create a CV and update your LinkedIn profile. Also keep your long-term career goals in mind and develop a plan to achieve them.
7. Personal development: Set goals for your personal development. This could be reading literature outside your field of study, learning new skills or travelling to experience other cultures. Work on developing your soft skills such as communication, teamwork and leadership.