January 15, 2013 by MSU Reporter

Tuesday, January 15, 2013 twitter.com/@msureporter

facebook.com /msureporter

Minnesota State University, Mankato

www.themsureporter.com

TUESDAY

H 26 • L 18

WEDNESDAY

H 30 • L 9

New year, new you Different types of How to keep a resolution New Year’s resolutions

MOLLY HORNER

staff writer

Whether your New Year’s resolution is to fit into your high school jeans again, save money, study abroad, quit smoking or you have no resolution at all, will you follow through with it? As the New Year begins with higher expectations, the ugly truth of the matter is clear; it’s easier said then done. According to statisticbrain. com, 45 percent of Americans typically make New Year’s resolutions, while 38 percent never do. People in their 20s were 39 percent more likely to achieve their resolution each year, while only 14 percent of people over 50 years old do. In 2012, 8 percent of people were successful in achieving their resolution, while 49 percent of people had infrequent success and 24 percent failed or never even attempted their resolution. Setting and maintaining a New Year’s Resolution results in having a really strong will, desire and discipline. To make the process easier while achieving a resolution,

there are three keys to focus on. First off, make your resolution specific. Instead of saying, “I’m going to lose weight,” make it more specific. “I’m going to loose 4 pounds by March 10.” Creating a food journal is a great way to write down what you consumed all day and look back on what you could do different the following day. Second, make it realistic. The resolution that you make should be reached in a specific time rather than just another one of those wish lists in the back of your head. For example, if you want to travel to Spain, don’t think its just going to happen over night. Meet with advisors, get on a budget plan and your traveling will become more realistic over time. Third, make it known to your peers so that the people around you can help with maintaining your lasting goal. If your resolution is to quit smoking, you will need to re evaluate whom you are around so you don’t fall into your old habits. Family and friends will want you to succeed

How To / page 6

TRISH BJERKE

staff writer

January first might be the worst day of the year. It’s the day when one wakes up and realizes, “Oh, yeah, I have to make some changes today.” If you’re like most people you think, “Why did I ever say that?” From the time you wake up on New Years Day until whenever you break your resolution, life is a little more difficult for one reason or another. There appear to be three main categories of resolutions. The first is quitting something. Common things include smoking, drinking, drugs, junk food, really any unhealthy thing in your life. The second is to start something. You may say, “This year I’m going to start working out/eating healthy/knitting/ being more friendly.” If your resolution is to start something, there’s a high chance of it being a positive or exciting thing. No one desires to pick up more bad habits. The last kind of resolution is changing something. Whether that is your job, a relationship, your attitude or your sleep-

ing patterns, changing may be the hardest kind of resolution. You’re so accustomed to your old ways that changing them is seemingly impossible. People either love New Year’s resolutions or they hate them. They can signify starting fresh and proving to yourself that you really can change. Or, resolutions can mean unhappiness and the attempt to find happiness. If it’s the latter, the resolution hangs over your head like a dark cloud, reminding you that you’ve really screwed your life up. For college students, New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep. Students have pressure from other students: “Hey, come out and drink with us!” or “Hey, come get dinner!” Your resolution to drink less or save money is on one side of a scale, and your friends are on the other side. Friends usually win. For resolutions to really work, a group of people must work together. How easy would going to the gym be if your friends were going with you? How easy would it be to save money if all your friends agreed to stop eating out and start making dinner together? Could this

Men’s Hockey Dominates Over Break See Page 9

be the future of resolutions? Students at Minnesota State University, Mankato have a variety of resolutions; some that have been kept and some that haven’t. Anna Snyder said she never makes resolutions. “And I guess I’ve kept that resolution,” she said. Benly Larson said he made a resolution to floss every day, and he’s already broken it. “I didn’t make one because I knew I wouldn’t keep it. I thought about quitting smoking and losing weight and exercising more… But not happening!” said Kristi Kalk. “Good luck to those who have kept theirs so far,” she added. Why is it so hard to stick to resolutions? Perhaps people make them too big; doing something every day can be challenging and completely changing something about yourself can be even more challenging. Maybe people should take Kaitlin DuChene’s approach. “My resolution is to try something new every month,” she said, “and yes, I have kept

Resolutions / page 5

SPORTS

INDEX: A&E

CLASSIFIEDS