Non-Career Goals for the Next Year

As students in higher education, I think it’s easy to set your goals purely in relation to your education and career and forget about all of the other parts of your life that also have room for improvements. Therefore, I have decided to list a few non-career goals that will help everybody’s lives improve just a little bit…

• Increase hydration: I could not tell you the last time I managed to actually drink the recommended 2 litres of water in a day.
• Read: Whether it be an academic journal, Game of Thrones, or a magazine, start dedicating some of your time to reading something other than Buzzfeed.
• Exercise: Find a sport or a workout class that brings you joy and commit to going at least twice a week.
• Explore: Bring out the kid in you and plan days to explore your local area a little more, it’s amazing what you can find.
• Concentrate on your food: Make your meal, put it on a plate and sit down at a table somewhere. Don’t put the tv on and actually concentrate on what you’re eating – also a great time to talk to friends and family.
• No phone zone: Have a least an hour a day where your phone is not in sight, this could be when you’re reading, eating or exercising.
• See more sunrises: We’ve all seen a lot of sunsets in our time, but a good sunrise can’t be beaten. Aim to wake up early and just watch the day come alive.
• Volunteer: As we get older, we have less and less spare time, but try to dedicate a little bit of your week to help others. This can be at an organised charity event, or just helping your elderly neighbour clean his car at the weekend.
• Clean out your emails: I’ve done this recently and I can’t express how wonderful it fills to not have my emails clogged up with pizza offers anymore. Whilst you’re decluttering your emails, also de-clutter your room, your bag and your phone, having a clean environment does wonders.

There are just a few small goals to improve your life just a little bit more. Pick one or pick all of them, just make sure you’re taking steps every day to do a little better.