Because if you do, it’s not going to happen by accident.
Having a great semester takes intentional, purposeful effort. Luckily, an amazing semester is in reach as long as you’re willing to take a few simple steps.
Here are three simple actions you can take to help you thrive this semester!
1. Meet Someone New
We gravitate towards people we know, which is normal--new relationships are intimidating.
But when we close ourselves to the possibility of new relationships, it’s easy to stay isolated in the same group, same club, and same circle of friends for four years.
Don’t get me wrong—everyone needs roots, and having stable friendships from one year to the next is a great way to stay sane and afloat.
The problem comes when we allow our current friendships to limit us.
Think about the memories you would have never experienced had you been too afraid to talk to your best friend. In the same way, by refusing to branch out and meet new people, we rob ourselves of the blessings those relationships can bring.
So this semester, whether it’s in your classes, your dorm, or with an organization on campus, take time to meet someone new!
2. Stay Active and Healthy
Our bodies affect everything we do. Research has consistently linked diet and exercise to mood, energy levels, and overall functioning. Anxiety, stress, depression—our habits affect them all.
This much is clear: if you neglect to care for your body, you’ll feel worse, perform worse in school, and be a lot less fun to be around.
Diet, exercise, and sleep are crucial to a thriving life.
So next time you’re in the cafeteria, opt for veggies over fries, or grab a salad instead of that second plate of pizza. Not only will you feel better, you’ll have an easier time avoiding the dreaded freshmen fifteen (or sophomore fifteen, or junior…you get the point)
Instead of driving across campus, walk. Though exercise may not be fun in the moment, it can pay off big in the long run.
You don’t have to do Crossfit or run a 5k. Just find an exercise routine that works for you.
So get active, stay healthy, and take time to care for yourself.
3. Find Something that Matters
Everyone has dreams of doing something important (well, most of us do anyways). That’s why so many people want to be doctors, teachers, researchers, engineers—they want to serve people, increase our knowledge of the world, and create and maintain the systems necessary for society to flourish.
Let’s put it this way: nobody want to be unimportant.
The problem? It’s so easy to drift. We’re easily distracted, and often before we know it our semester is over, and we’ve made no progress towards our goals.
So what should we do? Sometimes a good first step is simply defining what our goals are. Ask questions like…
What do you want to do this semester?
What do you want to learn?
What steps can you take to move deeper into your chosen field?
Most importantly, what kind of person do you want to be?
Do you want to be a caring person? Find a way to care for people.
Do you want your life to matter? Find something that matters.
Those are our thoughts! What do you think? Let us know!
About Pulse: Pulse is a new campus ministry in Conway, AR. Our mission: to help college students discover Jesus and live with purpose. To learn more about Pulse, click here.
