Now that the Spring 2025 semester is coming to an end, this is usually the time when people choose things to improve upon for future semesters or remove things from their lives in order to improve. Anticipating the upcoming summer break has given me the time to reflect on how I lived last year — the good and the bad. I’ve cultivated a brief list for myself on things I’ve added into my life this year, a list I am more than happy to share for those who are struggling to think of things to add and take away from this soon-to-be closing chapter of their lives.

Journaling & Voice Memos

   I’ve been journaling on and off since 2021, I’m sure you can only imagine the changes that have occurred since then. I used to simply journal about the bad things in my life, which makes for a depressing read to look back on. However, I’vetried to force myself to write about happier events or even “mundane” things in my life. Still, I was never consistent, or not as much as I would have liked to be anyway. The sole reason I picked up journaling is because I love writing, unsurprisingly, and I was very interested in seeing what my growth would be like. This led to me making choice to journal at least once every day; 365 pages to be filled with both the boring and the exciting things in life, I look forward to my progress! In a similar fashion, I’ve decided to start recording more voice memos. I briefly started this last spring, but it was soon to be forgotten with the chaos life had to offer. If you are someone who doesn’t love to write, I strongly recommend this! Even if it isn’t consistent, I promise you will be thoroughly amused with whatever nonsense you record throughout your days — I speak from personal experience.

Reading

   I am almost embarrassed to say that as an English major, I am not reading nearly enough as I should be. I’ve always wanted to pick up reading, really, to be so into a good book that you get lost in it. I’ve made it a mission of mine to read a few books this year, whether it be one or 20! I find my book recommendations online; I won’t be pretentious about it either, I’ll most likely be caught reading a terribly cheesy book — but a book nonetheless! That’s something I am beginning to learn about reading, it’s essential to be truthful about what it is you want to read or else it will become a boring chore.

   The best advice I can offer when it comes to self improvement, and probably the most expected, is to be lenient with yourself and accept that you can’t always be consistent. The most important part of making resolutions for yourself is the effort behind them, that will only make the accomplishment sweeter.