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EDITORIAL: New year brings new opportunity
Staff Editorial
The Daily Athenaeum (West Virginia U.)
01/08/2007

(U-WIRE) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As the new year allows everyone to focus on goals to achieve for the new semester, whether it be to become more organized, get into shape or focus on schoolwork, we have all started to buckle down.

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, most of us will abandon our resolutions within six weeks because they're unrealistic and we make too many.

In order to break this habit, realistic goals need to be set. According to federal government statistics, the most common resolution is weight loss followed by getting organized, focusing on school or work, and quitting smoking or drinking.

Instead of vowing to lose 30 pounds by Spring Break, set small standards such as one or two pounds a week. Just vow to eat healthier. Vow to be more active rather than hitting up the gym six days a week.

If it is your compulsive spending habit you wish to resolve, track your spending each week.

Haven't figured out a resolution yet? It's not too late. You can resolve to better yourself at any time. Just give yourself time to plan ahead.

Resolutions may not be broken if you approach them in a manageable way.

If this is your last semester at West Virginia University, instead of resolving to be something specific, resolve to be an overall better person. Vow to experience something you haven't yet at the University. Check out a performance at the Creative Arts Center, listen to the advice of a nationally recognized speaker, sign up for a class to broaden your horizons. Try not to overwhelm yourself with schoolwork and just soak in the final moments of your college career. It doesn't get better than this.

As we at The Daily Athenaeum hope to bring you something new this year, we encourage you to do the same.

As Benjamin Franklin said, "Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."

Copyright ©2007 The Daily Athenaeum via UWire



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