New Year’s Resolution: Breathe Accelerated Learning Resources

New Year’s Resolution: Breathe

As I look back at 2010, it was an overall successful year in my work and academics. I had many achievements, and I give myself many pats on the back for them. But I realized this was due to long library hours, long office hours, sacrificing time with friends, and constant stress. Therefore, I am using the New Year as an excuse to force myself to take time to relax.

Resolutions are not usually easy. Relaxing is definitely not easy for me. I have “relaxation jitters.” Trying to relax has always made me very anxious. I remember during a summer internship interview I stated that I never leave my desk to eat lunch somewhere else or take breaks. I didn’t get the job.

Starting this new school quarter, I will take a few seconds throughout my day and just concentrate on taking some deep breaths, and also try to do fun activities with friends and family.

My usual remedy for an overload of work and stress is to keep working or go to the gym. But there is something that is always on my agenda, and temporary tasks cannot fix them in the long-run. Sometimes I will try to remember my week and cannot find a start and end to the blur of papers and classroom desks. It is obvious a college student won’t get straight A’s or a job in one night, so why all the pressure? Should my study and work habits be thrown out like last year’s fashion styles?

Instead of completely changing my routines, I decided to add one. I am not too happy about this resolution, because I have never been good at relaxing. Luckily, a deep breath lasts only a few seconds but the effect can last an hour. Hopefully this year will have many positive changes.

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