The 10 Best Last Minute New Year`s Resolutions for Students

Written by Emily Cockbain, one of our Brand Ambassadors.

Feeling like this could be your year, but not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Here are the best New Year's resolutions for students.

We’re all guilty of dropping our newfound habits just a couple of weeks into the new year. Realistically, are you really going to keep going to the gym 5 times a week? That’s why some of us are so sceptical about the idea. But, after a (hopefully) restful few weeks off uni, the new year can be the perfect opportunity to pick up a new habit or drop an old one.

Here are our top 10 resolution ideas for students (which you can actually keep).

Keep a consistent (ish) sleep schedule

We all know that those mid-week nights out throw off our sleeping patterns massively, but are we going to stop going out? Of course not, and we don’t have to. On the days that you don’t go out, try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each day. It'll take a little while to get used to, but there are things you can do to help; try to get outside in the morning, try not to have too many naps through the day, and wind down before bed each night. 

Everyone has their own ways of getting to sleep. It could be listening to white noise, reading a book, or using a relaxing pillow spray. Whatever helps you, make sure to keep it consistent.

Learn a new helpful skill

Learning a new skill is always an impressive resolution. Your skill should be something which will benefit you in the future, but that you will also enjoy. If you’re the creative type, you could learn how to use Adobe Photoshop or other similar software. For those interested in IT, coding is a fantastic skill to learn. You could also try to learn a new language, research SEO (search engine optimisation), or learn about UX (user experience).

There are lots of free courses online, and YouTube videos are always helpful! If you’re struggling to find the time, it may be useful to learn a new skill that links to your degree or current part-time job.

Learn to cook three new meals

‘Learn to cook’ is a textbook New year's resolution – but many don’t know where to start. Knowing what you actually want to eat and choosing just a few recipes can make all the difference and is much more manageable.

Don’t throw all those chicken nuggets and oven chips out of your freezer though – you likely won’t have the time or energy to cook an extravagant meal every single day. Yet, meal planning and cooking in bulk for at least a few days a week can make all the difference to your diet. For inspiration, have a look at our student meal ideas and vegetarian recipes.

Don’t get blackout drunk on every night out

They say the best memories are the ones we forget, but that feeling of hangxiety the next day is one that many of us know all too well. There are usually a few main culprits: shots, mixing drinks, and an empty stomach. Again, you don’t have to give up drinking completely, but taking a few simple steps can help you have a night to remember, that you actually will remember.

We all love a 2-for-£5 jäger bomb deal (gotta make use of those student deals) but just remember how it will end if we have a few too many. Sticking to drinks in cups and bottles is your best bet – try to choose one drink that you enjoy instead of ‘taste testing’ the entire stock.

Finally – and most importantly – listen to your mum when she says to eat something before you go out. This is where that freezer food will come in handy – something quick, simple, and filling is all you need to line your stomach and you’re good to go!

Budget your money

Deep into your overdraft and feeling like you’ve fallen down a black hole? This is your sign to make a budget. You can still have fun whilst being able to afford to live on something other than plain pasta by planning out how much money you’ll spend on each area per week or month. For some tips, this video has some great ideas on how to organise your budget.

There are ways you can save money, too, such as shopping at cheaper supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi, making use of student discounts using UNiDAYS and Student Beans, and saving your energy.

Attend your lectures

Between going on nights out, having lie-ins, and sitting in the living room with flatmates, most of us don’t really have time to attend lectures – but we probably should.

This one ties into developing a consistent sleep schedule (see point 1), yet it can also be helpful to make a rough timetable for the week so that you can organise your coursework and revision around your lectures and seminars. Remind yourself that attending the live lectures means you don’t have 20 hours’ worth of videos to catch up on just before exams. At the same time, it’s okay to sleep through the odd 9am here and there.

Work on self love

Mental health issues can be a real problem for uni students. From unhealthy habits to the pressure we put on ourselves to achieve good grades, it’s no wonder that we struggle sometimes. Try practicing ways of reducing stress first, but seek help from your university counselling and mental health service if you feel that you need it.

If you’re determined to work on your confidence, try dressing in ways that make you feel good about yourself, speaking up on things you’re passionate about, and being patient with yourself when you’re not feeling your best.

Join a new society

Fancy picking up a new hobby? Being a uni student means it’s very easy to find like-minded people through societies – maybe you’re interested in getting into a new sport, or something more niche like crafts, Disney, or baking.

Be a more sustainable student

Taking care of our environment is more important than ever as climate change continues to get worse – the global temperature is expected to reach 1.4 °C in 2025.

You can make small changes to reduce your carbon footprint and live more sustainably, even if you’re on a budget. Many of these changes will be a win-win: donating old clothes to charity will also encourage you to clean out your wardrobe, whilst freezing your leftovers will save you money on food. If Veganuary is too much of a big change, you could even try incorporating two vegan meals into your diet each week.

Be organised your student house hunt

Every student dreads the stressful task of house hunting: the arguments with housemates, booking the tours, and comparing prices. 

UniHomes makes this task so much easier (not that we’re biased or anything). With thousands of properties to compare so you can find your perfect fit, all bills included (which means no more arguments about who left the heating on)!

Good luck with your resolutions and a very Happy New Year from all of us at UniHomes!