CREDIT: FSU PUBLICATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

The holidays have come to an end and students have returned to the classroom. Let’s face it, most people that come back from a holiday tend to struggle with getting back into a routine.

Whilst it can be tempting to continue on holiday mode, it’s important that as students, we set a structure to get back to where we were before leaving campus in December. It’s time to reset your biological clock from waking up after 10 a.m. in order to make it to classes on time and be able to study for your courses. As important as it is to get back into a routine, it’s equally as important to develop the routine and not become too comfortable in the same rhythm.

It can be easy to get wrapped up in challenging yourself to make big goals for the upcoming year. As a student myself, I find it much easier to make realistic goals for the upcoming month. I like to call this, ‘The Monthly Reset.’ This way, I can hold myself accountable for goals that I want to achieve in the short term and build myself up to a higher target. Below is a list of what my ‘The Monthly Reset’ consists of.


1. LISTS

The first activity I do when creating my monthly reset is to make six different lists that consist of: my physical health goals, my career goals, my financial goals, my mental health goals, my social goals, and my education goals. I try to have at least two goals for each category for the upcoming month. It’s important for me to have this list located in areas that I see the most. For example, my daily planner and my phone. I also have a few friends that set their monthly goals as their laptop screen saver for an additional reminder.

2. REWARDS

Whilst knowing that I have accomplished monthly goals can be a great reward in itself, I find that I am even more motivated when I know that I have organized a reward for my completion. This reward doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, just something that gives a further sense of satisfaction of keeping myself accountable throughout the month. For example, one month I reward myself by going to a restaurant that I wanted to go to for a long time but never took the time to go to. Although this was a small reward, I definitely felt a further sense of satisfaction, by recognizing my hard work and dedication throughout the month.

3. QUOTES

I tend to research a quote to live by for the upcoming month. I find doing this helps with keeping growth in my personality in check. For example, for one month, the quote I lived by embraced change in attracting expectations, being respectful to myself the way in which I want to be respected, as well as mirroring admirations.

4. THE PAST AND THE FUTURE

Recognizing the blessings that have occurred in the past can be something that we all forget to acknowledge and be grateful for. As a part of my monthly reset, I make it a priority to reflect on what has happened in the past month, which helps me remember how lucky I am for embracing the small blessings into my life. With that, I also like to recognize what events I am looking forward to during the upcoming month.

5. HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

I like to leave this space for any unexpected blessings that have presented itself into my life during the month. The main difference between my monthly reset as opposed to any lists of goals that I have created in the past is the time frame I have allocated for myself. One month is a lot less pressure to accomplish goals instead of 12 months. Additionally, having my monthly reset in my daily planner has been life changing and I highly recommend placing any goals in a place that you see at least once a day.