How students can maintain goals and resolutions

By Mikaela Graf | Staff writer

The first month of 2022 is now over, and it is about time for students to check in on their New Year’s resolutions. Whether someone is trying to eat more vegetables or make use of a new gym membership, there has likely already been a few obstacles.

Augusta University freshman Lena Hallam, like many others, is hoping to become healthier and more active this year. When it came time to make resolutions, she reflected on last year’s mistakes with similar intentions.

“I set a goal to exercise every day for the whole year, and I failed within the first week,” said Hallam. “One of the first nights, I realized that I forgot to exercise at like 11:58 p.m., and I thought, ‘Oh! I can still do a 2-minute plank just to say that I did it,’ and then I failed in the next couple of days,” she said.

Hallam said she has always enjoyed making in-depth resolutions for herself, but her lengthy journaling sometimes creates unhealthy expectations for herself.

“In years past, I would write every detail of my resolution, which was really unrealistic. This year, I want to be specific but reasonable,” she said.

While her heart and mind may be in the right place, Hallam struggles with feasible goal-setting. Fortunately, AU Softball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Melissa Brocato has some tips for anyone making and maintaining resolutions this year, and it all starts with SMART goals.

The acronym SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound.

“Do some research,” said Brocato. “Don’t just haphazardly go out there and try to meet a goal if you don’t have the tools in place to be able to do it.”

Brocato said that the most important part of a SMART goal is the aspect of time. “

Don’t leave it as an open-ended goal – give yourself a specific time,” she said.

New Year’s resolutions are typically bound under the timeframe of one year, but if the goal could be accomplished sooner, making a three-to-six-month goal can be an alternative. This way, if the goal is not met within the timeframe chosen, there will still be time to reevaluate and set a new goal.

“Be willing to reassess your goal,” said Brocato. “It’s okay to have to reset and modify the expectations you set for yourself.”

Whatever the goal may be, having someone to rely on for encouragement and assistance can ease the burden of maintaining it.

“Accountability is always huge,” Brocato said. “Find a buddy or somebody who can do it with you and set some intentions together.”

Since many goals involve more activity and exercise, AU has several sites and services available to students.

“One of the greatest things we have is the Wellness Center,” said Brocato. “Not everyone finds that to be the most convenient, but it is free.”

The Wellness Center, located at 1488 Laney Walker Blvd near Oak Hall, is open seven days a week and offers a variety of equipment and fitness classes. Other resources include the Christenberry Fieldhouse, activity courses and the walking trail on Summerville Campus.

Brocato recommends that students do not neglect their emotional and mental health as they pursue better habits this year.

“I think the piece that people miss a lot is the mental aspect, or the emotional aspect, and I think the beginning of the year is a great time to reset with that, as well,” Brocato said. “We often times forget how important those are to our overall well-being.”

Whether the resolution is to lose that little bit of weight or spend more time with their feelings, everyone can benefit from the fresh start that comes with the New Year, and it is not too late to make some SMART goals.

Brocato urges students to make the most of their youth and choose to exchange 2021’s bad habits for 2022’s good ones.

“While we’re young, if we go ahead and set some habits, even just one thing, we’ll see huge benefits down the line,” she said.

At top of page, students can find many ways to stay active as part of their goals for the new year. (photo by Mikaela Graf)

Contact Mikaela Graf at mgraf@augusta.edu.

This story is published in the Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022 print edition of The Bell Ringer.