A new year, a fresh start and yet another semester to complete. Only four months are left in the school year, and the new year is the time to make the most of it. Whether your goal is to exercise more frequently, eat healthier, go to sleep earlier or have better time management, it is crucial to understand exactly how you plan to execute such tasks. Here are four ways to complete those objectives for 2026.
Habit stacking
The term famously coined by author James Clear in his 2018 book “Atomic Habits” refers to adding new habits onto existing ones. Before taking action, you must first identify your current habits and then ones you want to adapt.
For instance, you set a goal of incorporating more protein in your diet. To do this, you may put protein powder in your coffee before your workout and then eat a bowl of cottage cheese after your workout. This framework can be applied to just about any resolution you want.
Effectively multitasking: Key word being effectively
Multitasking itself is a deceptive term, as research from the National Institute of Health (NIH) has made it clear that “the human mind and brain lack the architecture to perform two or more tasks simultaneously.” In fact, it is generally recommended that you plan out your schedule with the goal that you do not multitask — it can be distracting and divert your attention from learning.
Nevertheless, there are times when you want to be distracted. Walking on the treadmill for one hour is one of those times. Yes, you could listen to music, watch a YouTube video or even listen to a podcast, but if you have some reading to catch up on for a class, this is definitely the time to do it. You will be amazed at how quickly time passes you by.
Reducing technology use
Saying that college students are busy is an understatement. Many students work extensively on top of being a full-time student, and that is no easy task.
“63 percent of undergraduates who worked and were enrolled full time and 88 percent of those who worked and were enrolled part time worked more than twenty hours per week,” the U.S. Department of Education found in 2017.
When so many hours of the day are spent focusing so intensely, the mind needs to be as clear as possible. To accomplish that, ridding your brain of excessive technology use can truly change not only the speed at which work is completed, but also the depth of thought produced in assignments.
Become a calendar addict
I am convinced that heavy utilization of a calendar can solve world hunger. Make use of a planner or digital calendar, completely up to you, but use it religiously. Put classes on there, events, work times, when you are supposed to exercise, perhaps when you need to practice a sport or instrument, appointments, when assignments are due and more. Let the calendar write your life, and you will become an entirely different person.
