This year be the best you, you can be and follow these five tips and tricks to help you get your New Year started in the right way!
- Reflect on the year gone by and define your goals for the year ahead
To prepare for a successful start on the new year ahead, it is helpful to reflect on the past year. Take some time to think about what went well this year and list your top 3 achievements, this could be anything from getting your driver’s license to acing an assignment. Be sure to celebrate your achievements and be proud of yourself for all you have done throughout the year, but also take time to reflect on the things that did not go as well and how you could have done things differently, so that you know your areas for improvement for the upcoming year.
That brings us to looking at the year ahead. Start thinking about the things that you want to achieve, whether that be improving your grades or starting a new hobby. This is a great way to ensure that you are well motivated and have the best possible chance at meeting your new goals at the end of the year. It may also help to write down your goals for the year and display them somewhere visible as a reminder to yourself, or, if you are more artistically inclined, you could make a vision board of what you hope to achieve to motivate you in the year ahead.
2. Digital Declutter
Our online spaces play such an important role here at Middlesbrough College, so it is important to treat your online spaces as you would your physical workspace, by keeping it clean and tidy. Start by clearing out your e-mails and unsubscribing from all those spam accounts that clog up your inbox and, most importantly, make sure that all your work is saved and backed up into the relevant folders so that it is easily accessible and won’t get lost or deleted.
3. Get active!
Exercise is so important in maintaining a healthy mind and body, so making sure you get out and get active can have a massive impact on your experience at College. You don’t have to become a marathon runner or pro-athlete, as exercising for just 30 minutes a day can improve your memory and help to reduce stress. Exercises like jogging or yoga can be done from home, or if you do fancy a more hardcore workout why not pop down to our fitness studio? You can find more about our Gymworld facilities here: https://www.mbro.ac.uk/open-to-the-public/gymworld/fitness-studio
We also have a range of sports enrichment activities, head to our enrichment webpage to find out more: https://www.mbro.ac.uk/student-services/enrichment
4. Self-care
We know that College can be stressful and overwhelming at times, so it is important to make time for yourself to unwind and relax. It’s all about what makes you feel your best, whether that be curling up with your favourite book, taking a relaxing bath, or journalling.
Please remember it’s okay not to be okay, and we are here for you. If you find yourself struggling with anything at College or at home, we have a dedicated counselling service on hand to help you. You can find more about our counselling and student wellbeing services here: https://www.mbro.ac.uk/student-services/safeguarding-and-welfare/counselling
5. Make time for fun!
It’s important to remember in between all that hard work that you are taking breaks and having fun. Having an event to look forward to in the future can be a great motivator and boost productivity, even if it’s as something as simple as hanging out with friends.
Do these five simple steps and you’ll arrive back to College ready to face the year ahead! We look forward to welcoming you back on Wednesday 4th January 2023!