To all members of the campus community: welcome back.
Before we get to the topic at hand, we want to discuss a recent event. The year started off on a dark note with the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man outside The Corner Alley. Our prayers are with all who were affected by this incident and their loved ones. Read our news report for more information.
We hope that everyone had a chance to relax and reflect over the winter break. As we move forward, it’s a great time to think about personal goals and what we can improve in the new semester. We’re talking New Year’s resolutions.
At Case Western Reserve University, many students are always trying to do more. Our campus culture promotes slaving over homework for hours, pulling all-nighters to study for exams and piling up more and more extracurriculars.
It’s no surprise that this dogged work ethic isn’t always the best for our social lives and our health. It’s important to consider, though, that it might not even be the best for our academic and career goals.
Think of it this way: Every part of your life as a CWRU student (social life, physical and mental wellness and academic responsibilities, to categorize them broadly) is interconnected. So if you start to over-emphasize or neglect certain areas, then the others are likely to be thrown off balance.
At CWRU, the competitive academic culture and tough classes lead to many students prioritizing academics over health and relationships. Many of us have experienced rough semesters where we got too stressed out by school and ended up with very little sleep and not much time with friends.
Start by making a resolution for each of these three areas: academics, wellness and relationships. It doesn’t have to be drastic. Consider setting small, attainable goals. Pledge to set aside 30 minutes each day of focused, uninterrupted study time on your toughest class. Promise yourself that you will drink a certain amount of water each day. Designate time each week to spend with your friends, and make a commitment not to worry about classes when you’re with them.
If that seems intimidating, just choose one area and make a resolution. All you need to do is stay consistent and prioritize the commitment you made to yourself. Any positive change, no matter how small, will trickle over into the other parts of your life.
If you want some inspiration, check out our news coverage of first-year students coming back to campus ready to make resolutions and changes to their life here.
We didn’t consult any experts, so this is our take. Share your resolutions with us on our social media. We’d love to hear what goals you’ll be working towards this year.