January – the time of year that drives me insane. Advert after advert of DFS sales, slimfast milkshakes and gruelling workout routines. But this year you don’t have to confine to societal standards. Here are some New Years Eve resolutions to take care of yourself this year, without adhering to diet or ‘the new you’ trends:

1. Appreciate your body more. I don’t mean this in the exercise more/ eat less chocolate way. I mean looking at your full body reflection – really looking – and appreciating the figure you have. Body image can be a difficult topic after enjoying christmas food and meals out for the past month, but weight fluctuation is normal and should not define the way you see your body.
2. Spend more time with your family/ close friends. Spending time with family can be difficult if you do not get on with your close ones, or you have toxic relationships within your family home. But spending time with close friends from home/ from university is equally as important. Grades and exams are vital but so is taking care of your social life.
3. Feel fancy more. I have a few fancy dresses in the wardrobe gathering dust, because I worry too much about over-dressing or not feeling ‘small’ enough to wear a short outfit. This year I’m working on making those reasons go out of the window.Of course feeling better about your appearance doesn’t have to come from wearing outfits – it can be something as small as wearing eyeliner more or spending longer in the shower. Start with baby steps and you’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel.
4. Take more photos. There’s something endearing about waking up after a house party and finding loads of blurry pictures of malibu and barely recognisable people.
5. Go somewhere new. Whether it’s trying the new Eddy B cafe or going to a different club, trying new stuff makes days of boring seminar prep seem all worth it.
6. Watch new films more. This doesn’t mean that you have to break the bank with cinema tickets. You can borrow DVDs or watch new series on BBC one or Netflix.
7. Cook a big meal every week. At university it can be difficult to find the time to cook. But making a big meal like veggie lasagne or chilli means that you don’t have to worry about meals for the next 3 days – not to mention the money you’ll save in the long run.
8. Read more critical essays. I’m constantly struggling up the hill to campus with a load of old books from Brotherton. Even if critical essays won’t always come in handy for your coursework, some background information is always useful when it comes to exams, or just generally understanding a text. You’ll also get that Rory Gilmore look going on.

Here’s hoping that 2017 brings good grades and more drunken photos.

Charlie Collett 

(Photo credit: https://getthinspired.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/love-your-body/)