Warrior Reset

The start of a new year often inspires us to make commitments to ourselves to try something new. But once we get through the dark days of January, our new year’s resolutions fall by the wayside.

It can be hard to stick to far-reaching goals and we tend to fall back into old habits. If this sounds all too familiar, you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve pulled together some ideas that you can try today, tomorrow or a month from now, because it’s never too late to get started.

Warrior Reset, your four-step guide to developing healthy habits that are sustainable all year long:

1. Shift the way you think about New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions can lead to unnecessary pressure to make significant changes or overhaul your life. This approach is overwhelming and likely to fail, leaving little motivation to keep trying. So, what if instead you found a new way to think about your resolutions to make your wellbeing a priority? Our Peer Health Education team suggests reframing your goals to encourage lifelong habits.

2. Start fresh each Monday with weekly intentions. Small steps each week can help you form better habits throughout the year. Why start on a Monday? There’s research to suggest that you’re more likely to carry your intentions throughout the week if you start on a Monday. Plus, at the end of the week you can evaluate what worked and what didn’t, celebrate the wins and think about what next week may look like.

3. Challenge a friend. Leverage the power of a friendly competition and creating some accountability by sharing your intentions for the week. Schedule time to check-in with one another. Remove any feelings of guilt or judgment, that will just set you back. Instead, focus on the positives and trust the process. Remember, there’s always next Monday!

4. Make the most of Reading Week! It’s a perfect time to start a Warrior Reset. Classes are paused and you have some time to recharge, get caught up on your coursework, connect with friends and family and plan for the upcoming weeks.

Not sure where to start? Here are some more ideas from your UWaterloo student resources:

• Start small and get a quick win by tidying your room/study space.
• Grab a few things from WStore’s Warrior Reset list to get yourself organized.
• Apply for that student exchange you’ve been dreaming of. Hot tip: Second-round applications are now open until February 28.
• Try new food! Download and browse the Food Services mobile ordering app and skip the line.
• Feeling down after receiving grades from fall term? Create a plan to access support resources like Warrior Study Halls hosted by the Student Success Office Peer Success Coaches.
• Experienced challenges with your midterms and exams last term? Need testing accommodations? Register with AccessAbility Services or schedule an appointment with your Accommodation Consultant.
• Explore and enhance your leadership knowledge through interactive workshops facilitated by student leaders. Workshops run throughout February and into March.
• Acknowledge feelings of burnout and take steps to reduce and manage your stress.
• Get your mind and body moving! Try a new approach to participating in physical activity.
• Explore the different athletic facilities. If you’re finding the PAC busy, try CIF or change up your routine by trying a morning workout to kick-start your day.
• Fire up your creativity and help build #consentculture on campus by entering the SVPRO’s Consent Slogan Contest. The deadline to submit is February 27.

Still looking for more? There’s no shortage of ways to get support and explore the many ways to get involved in your campus community. Bookmark your student resources page and follow @uwaterloolife for more ideas for your Warrior Refresh.