Dear Readers,
Welcome back to campus! As we step out of the sleepy, relaxing haze of a month-long winter break and shift gears back to school, this marks the beginning of a new semester and a new year. While we are almost three weeks past the Times Square ball drop and swirls of confetti, the vast majority of 2019 still awaits for us to discover. And with so much potential yet to come, now is the perfect time to begin seizing each day and conquer the new semester AND the new year. While everyone may have different goals for 2019, there are some things we could all keep in mind as we plan for the year ahead. Here are three points of general advice to make 2019 not just your year, but your best year.
1. Cherish and cultivate your relationships.
Whether it be family, friends, coworkers, classmates, mentors, or so on — we all have varying support systems in our everyday lives. No matter where the year takes you, take the time to prioritize these relationships. Something as simple as a text or email to stay connected, a quick FaceTime call, or scheduling a lunch or coffee break can have a great impact on the important people in your life, as well as yourself. These are easy ways to show the people you care about just how much they mean to you, and maintaining these connections will substantially impact your own wellbeing too. Always remember that regardless of how your life is going or whatever challenges you may be facing, these are the people who will be by your side and wholeheartedly support you, no matter what. Focus on spending time with them and cherish every moment, because you never want to take the time you have with someone for granted.
2. Take the time to try something new every day.
While it may seem daunting to push yourself out of your comfort zone, make 2019 a year to work on the things you have always wanted to try or do. These do not have to be anything extreme, like skydiving or conquering your fear of rollercoasters. If there is a restaurant in your hometown you’ve always been curious about but never gone to, plan to go there for your next meal instead of defaulting to one of your typical choices. If there is a part of campus you haven’t been through yet, set aside the time and go exploring. Try making a new recipe, experiment with drawing or journaling, or explore music or a podcast you’ve never listened to before. It could even be something as simple as reorganizing your sweater drawer or redecorating your apartment. Each of these smaller accolades will truly grow to have a much larger impact on your life and mood. You will feel more accomplished as you build up these skills and experiences, and become even more motivated to see what else you can achieve!
3. Make YOURSELF your biggest priority.
This piece of advice builds on the previous two, and is perhaps the most important thing to remember. No matter what your objectives for 2019 are, make sure that all of your decisions support yourself and your own wellbeing. Do not feel pressured to shape your goals for the year according to what others are doing, or based on what the oversaturated, deeply tuned images in your feeds may portray as the “in” ways to live your life. At the end of the day, it is your life to live, no one else’s. So do the things you genuinely want to do and that will make you the happiest. Go with your intuition and have confidence in yourself and your goals. So long as your wellbeing is at the baseline, the rest of your year can only build up from there.
I hope these general themes are easily applicable this year and can help make it one to remember. From everyone at The Spread to you, we wish you the happiest New Year and best of luck over the rest of the semester!
Sincerely,
Madison Gillespie, Editor-In-Chief
Image Used in Featured Graphic: Pinterest
Featured graphic edited and created by Madison Gillespie
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