2019 is well on its way. How has this year been for you? For all of you freshers who have experienced your first term of University, we hope it well exceeded your expectations, and for those in your final year, we hope you’re making the most of this time and getting ready for life after student-hood.

The new year brings with it the chance for a fresh start. If you’ve had a not so great year, 1^st January is the perfect time to turn things around. There’s something so refreshing and exhilarating about waking up in the new year, excited to find out what lies ahead. Whether it’s putting together some resolutions to better yourself, or getting your student accommodation in Lancaster sorted out, the start of the new year is the ideal time to make that fresh start.

New Year’s Resolutions

The tradition of making new year’s resolutions dates all the way back to 153 B.C., Romans would look to Janus, a mythical God of early Rome – and where we get the name January – to bless them for the year ahead by making promises for the new year. Many people make resolutions in the hopes of bettering themselves, whether it’s by giving up a bad habit or taking up a new activity. Here are some ideas for new year’s resolutions you could make this coming year:

• Change Your Drinking Habits

As a student, there’s a good chance you indulge in some late nights, partying and going out. It’s a big part of student culture, so we’re not going to tell you to give up booze completely – although that would be the best for your health. But if you have a penchant for waking up, not knowing anything about the night before, something needs to change. Whether it’s limiting yourself to one night out a week, indulging in fewer drinks on your nights out or drinking a glass of water between each drink, changing your drinking habits and making healthier choices is a step in the right direction.

• Stricter Budgeting

You might be a stellar budgeter, always having spare cash for the holidays and never stepping foot in your overdraft, but that’s not the case for most students. If you often find yourself scrounging for pennies by the end of term, it might be time to start being stricter with your budget. Plan how much you can spend each week and stick to it. There are plenty of helpful budgeting apps available or you can use a simple spreadsheet to keep track of your spending.

• Try New Things

Trying new things is a part of life, and as a student, you have more opportunities now to do new things than you ever will. Was there a society you were considering joining but missed the first meeting and then didn’t bother? Sign up now! Student societies welcome new members all year round, and you can try out brand new activities like ballroom dancing, stand-up comedy or even sky diving. Not only will you have great memories, but you’ll end up with some cool things to put on your CV.

• Make More Time for Family and Friends

How often have you call your mother whilst you’ve been at University? Probably not enough. Family and friends are incredibly important, and it’s easy to lose touch when you’re away at University. Make time to call your parents regularly to check in, arrange Skype calls with your friends from home or invite them up to see you for a weekend. You don’t want to go home for the summer and feel like a stranger to the people you left behind.

• Healthy Food Switches

Chances are you’ve been indulging in a few too many takeaways this term. As difficult as it might be to want to cook a healthy meal when you’re bogged down with studying, you owe it to your body to try. Healthy meals are important for your body and mind; you’ll feel much better in yourself if you swap your takeaways for delicious home-cooked meals.

• Take Up Some Exercise

If you’re not already doing so, you should really consider getting in some weekly exercise. Whether it’s by joining a sports team, the gym or even just going for the occasional jog, it’s important to get your body moving to maintain your health. Even a 30 minute walk a day can do wonders for your body.

Studying Goals

If you’re not so keen on new year’s resolutions but would still like to better yourself as a student, what better way to do so than by trying harder in your studies? After all, the whole reason you’re at University is to get that degree. So, if you’ve been slacking and skating by with just a pass, why not take this opportunity of a fresh start to really throw yourself into your work? Whether it’s by doing all that extra recommended reading you haven’t touched, starting your essays a few weeks earlier than you would normally (instead of waiting until the night before) or attending your lecturer’s office hour for extra help, there’s plenty you can do from now until the summer to boost those grades before the final results are in.

Get Accommodation Ready

You may have already secured your student housing in Lancaster, but if you haven’t, don’t worry, there’s still time to do so after you come back from the Christmas holidays. If you do have a house lined up for next year, then there’s plenty to be done before you move in next autumn.

Moving into accommodation off campus is quite different from living on campus. You’ll need to decide what you’re doing for transport; are you close enough to walk into University every morning? Are you likely to be able to do that every day? If not, you should consider a bus pass (and add it to that new budget of yours).

Living in a house with your friends is different from campus, you have more responsibility, it feels more like a real home. Are you guys going to be a communal household, putting money into a pot to buy communal things like toilet paper, or will whoever uses the last roll be responsible for buying a new pack? Will you cook as a group, taking it in turns to make the meal, or just do your own thing? These are all factors that might be worth discussing with your new housemates before moving in.

There’s plenty of time to decide on these things as the year progresses. If you still don’t have a house sorted for next year, don’t panic; there will still be housing available. From all of us here at Student Housing Lancaster, we hope you have a great Christmas holiday, and we’ll see you in 2019.