Spring Break
Keeping resolutions throughout the semester
John Bailey
Issue date: 1/20/09 Section: Focus
Good news! I still haven't broken any of my new year's resolutions. Since they all include the clause "Once the semester starts" this hasn't been too tough (my only winter break-exclusive resolutions were "sleep" and "beer"). But now, the first bright, snowy Tuesday of the semester dawns, and I realize that push has come to shove. I can't fool myself any longer - it's time to follow through on those strident, gutsy resolutions I made at the bottom of a champagne glass. But, as humans do, I feel myself already faltering - gym? It's -10 with a chance of Yeti. Healthy eating? Whitney omelette bar! Work? My roommate brought up Nerf guns! What's a student to do?
Stick together to survive.
Like a zombie apocalypse, a field of intimidating semester's resolutions is best navigated with some buddies. But, also like zombies, resolutions need tough love. You can't talk it out with the undead, and you can't let your friends rationalize your resolutions away. When you're trying to get anything done, friends are - more often than not - bad for you.
"Mac and cheese! Oh, but I shouldn't, really, I'm trying to lose weight."
"Nah, who needs to lose weight? You're beautiful the way you are!"
And while I'm all for helpful self-esteem boosts, they're only useful if they're actually reinforcing positive behaviors. Unless your resolution was "have a great time with my friends" (commendable), those late-night calzone calories aren't going get you any closer to shedding the pounds. So, alternately, try to find that fraternal spirit in something that actually helps your cause:
"Hey, yo, check out this salad! Boss, dude!"
"Yeah, man, that salad turns it up to 11! Diesel slick!"
"Pound it!"
And, of course, it helps to make resolutions in groups - otherwise that one girl who resolved to "drink way more vodka this semester" will ruin it for everyone.
Penalty box.
People are electric - they always take the path of least resistance. If you present me with fun video games on the one hand, and dumb homework on the other, I'll choose the easy, enjoyable and relaxing option every time. So you need to tip the scales in responsibility's favor; if this means slipping Justice a fiver or two, that's cool (she's blind; she won't know you did it anyway).
Stick together to survive.
Like a zombie apocalypse, a field of intimidating semester's resolutions is best navigated with some buddies. But, also like zombies, resolutions need tough love. You can't talk it out with the undead, and you can't let your friends rationalize your resolutions away. When you're trying to get anything done, friends are - more often than not - bad for you.
"Mac and cheese! Oh, but I shouldn't, really, I'm trying to lose weight."
"Nah, who needs to lose weight? You're beautiful the way you are!"
And while I'm all for helpful self-esteem boosts, they're only useful if they're actually reinforcing positive behaviors. Unless your resolution was "have a great time with my friends" (commendable), those late-night calzone calories aren't going get you any closer to shedding the pounds. So, alternately, try to find that fraternal spirit in something that actually helps your cause:
"Hey, yo, check out this salad! Boss, dude!"
"Yeah, man, that salad turns it up to 11! Diesel slick!"
"Pound it!"
And, of course, it helps to make resolutions in groups - otherwise that one girl who resolved to "drink way more vodka this semester" will ruin it for everyone.
Penalty box.
People are electric - they always take the path of least resistance. If you present me with fun video games on the one hand, and dumb homework on the other, I'll choose the easy, enjoyable and relaxing option every time. So you need to tip the scales in responsibility's favor; if this means slipping Justice a fiver or two, that's cool (she's blind; she won't know you did it anyway).
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