Charger Blogger Reflects on Importance of Starting Strong and Staying Consistent

We’re back to school, baby.

Hey everyone, I’m Beatrice, your resident neighborhood nerd and nutrition sciences major here at the University of New Haven. Following a restful winter break (with lots of sugar, obviously), I’m excited to hone in once again on my academics and prove to myself what I’m capable of.

(Including, but not limited to, my caffeine intake.)

During my time here at the University of New Haven, I’ve found that the Spring semester not only offers me new beginnings, but manages to weasel in some “magic” of its own into my life – in whatever form it may be in. Between slobbery dog kisses and plenty of sugar (lol), winter break gave me a chance to set some goals for the upcoming year:

• Run a 5k or a half marathon
• Be more social
• Follow through on plans (no random cancellations, which I tend to be criminal of)
• Travel somewhere new, preferably outside of the country



And, but not limited to:

• Get all A’s

Maybe I’m speaking for myself, but maybe I’m also speaking for the collective, too: getting all A’s is difficult. It takes persistence, some tears, and a decent bit of grit. Success requires effort, which is a hard thing to give when you’re a human being and have TikTok, homework, and maybe a roommate that makes you question your decisions. Yet, when I tell you that even when you give 1% more of yourself every day to your goals, you will be at 100% in 100 days, 200% in 200, and so on and so forth. Pretty cool, huh? Success will never be linear, either. There will be days where you feel like you’re on the top of the world, and others where you feel like you’re stuck in a ravine.

But, like they say: the only way from rock bottom is up.

So, how do we do that?

Advice #1: Early Bird Gets the Worm

As I’ve gotten older, the “early bird gets the worm” isn’t always about getting up early. Plan to get all your homework in before the weekend so you can go to your job (or internship) and do it well. Prepare meals that are nourishing, satisfying, and make you do a little happy dance when you’re opening up the container so you’re not eating the same turkey and cheese sandwich that sticks to the roof of your mouth. Make your bed every morning for easy satisfaction. Grab a planner and mark all the days on your calendar that are of importance.

The bird that prepares ahead gets the worm later on. This will make obtaining and maintaining good grades, health (mental, physical, emotional, etc.), relationships, and any hobbies you enjoy much easier than trying to do everything all at the same time.

Advice #2: Nutrition, Exercise, & Sleep

Many people out there say you can’t out-train a bad diet. As your resident nutrition major, I can’t exactly disagree. Think of it like you’re fueling a car: bad gas = bad engine, and vice versa. While working out is great to help increase focus and overall energy, what you eat is going to affect the degree to which you feel those items. Some foods will make you feel great, while others won’t. I’m not going to go into the nitty-gritty about those in this article, but I feel as though you all can get a general feel for what I’m talking about. Lastly: sleep. Sleep is important. It helps your brain remember things, and process what happened throughout your day. It’s what keeps you sane and able to function.

Author, at 3 a.m. in the ambulance: [.......................]
Author, awake at 3:02 a.m. in the ambulance: “Oh my god. Where am I? Okay cool great this is fantastic – what do you mean we’re going to a cardiac arrest?”

*Coughs* Needless to say, do as I say, not as I do. Lol.

Advice #3: Consistency

Consistency in routine is what makes or breaks a lifestyle. Make yourself a morning routine. It’s going to be awkward at first – and no, don’t grab your phone – but it’ll become autonomous after you’ve done it for a month or so. Make bed, brush teeth, maybe do a little stretching or something – your routines should be adapted to your goals. Consistency is also when you show up to the gym, tired and grumpy, but still manage to get through your workout even if it’s not your best work. Showing up for yourself, even if it may be discounted, is better than not showing up at all.

Taking all these points into consideration, remember to start small. You’re not going to be a bodybuilder in a week, or a professional yogi the next. Those are unrealistic. However, you can say to yourself that you’d like to increase your dumbbell weight next week or try a new yoga pose you want to master. Small, achievable goals are what lead to success, even if they don’t feel like much in the moment.

I hope you all have enjoyed reading this article as much as I did writing it, and I hope to see you all in the near future. As always, stay tuned!

With peace, love, and PB,
Beatrice