Whether it’s to land a post-grad job, kick a habit, or start a new hobby, the new year is a time of transformation for many.
Now that the haze of fireworks and hangovers have faded, it’s time to get serious about those New Year’s resolutions. Journal staff share their picks and decide whether or not their resolutions are likely to last the month—or hopefully—the year of 2025.
***
As I welcomed 2025, I declared one of my resolutions would be to adopt a healthier sleep schedule in my last semester of university—with an emphasis on sleep and getting more of it.
I wanted to challenge my magnetic pull to unnecessary 3 a.m. bedtimes and wake up earlier to start my days right—not in a frantic rush. One week into the semester (press night not included) and I have to say things are looking up! Now, let’s see if I can turn this optimistic thinking into a reality for the next three months.
—Katherine Sung, Editorials Editor
A few days before the new year hit, I took my annual trip to my hometown dentist.
The one thing I’ve always prided myself on is having perfect teeth. Maybe not perfect looking, but I have never needed braces, a retainer, or a filling. But to my dismay, my dentist found two cavities.
At 20, the idea of having a filling is even more daunting because I’ve never had one done before. I set a goal of never needing a filling again: to floss twice a day and brush my teeth three times. It’s a lot more challenging than you might expect to find the time to brush your teeth a third time during the day, and I can imagine it’ll get more difficult as the semester ramps up and I spend more time on campus. But so far, I’ve managed to maintain my resolution.
—Cloey Aconley, Assistant Arts & Culture Editor
This is a special year because I will be graduating in the spring!
As I head into this new chapter of my life, I want to instill some habits that will set me up for success. One of them is to prioritize investing money in my health. Amid our busy lives and competing priorities, it’s easy to forget about our health.
However, investing some money into wellness is a form of self-care I wish to practice. So far, I’ve consistently enrolled in community fitness classes, and I plan to make this form of self-care a habit post-university!
—Nay Chi Htwe, Assistant Photo Editor
My New Year’s resolution was to journal and read every night before bed for at least an hour. I used to do these two things every night without fail, but recently as my life has gotten busier, I’ve had a harder time prioritizing my hobbies.
I held strong for 10 days, but I forgot to on days 11 and 12. I have a hard time breaking out of a rut when I believe I’ve made a mistake, but I’m trying to trick my brain into thinking that I never messed up or missed a day, because I don’t want to turn forgetting about the new habits I’m trying to cultivate into a trend.
—Eva Sheahan, Assistant Arts & Culture Editor
My New Year’s resolution was to get my screen time down, but I didn’t want to start my year with a series of limitations, rather, one full of opportunities. Instead of telling myself to scroll less, I wanted to enjoy my life off-screen more.
My resolution to spend less time on my phone means trying to fill my spare time with restorative activities that involve pursuits other than doom scrolling. I’ve been filling my social calendar with time with friends, reading more, working out, and listening to CDs and radio instead of streaming.
Though a completely zero screen time might not be in my future, my hours are consistently going down so far, and I feel happier, less stressed, and more confident when spending less time looking down, and more time looking forward.
—Madison Taylor, Senior Arts & Culture Editor
Tags
2025, journal staff, New Year’s, New Years Resolution, staff picks
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.