A new year means new beginnings. For a lot of York students, January is about small shifts that make life feel a bit lighter, calmer and more interesting. Some goals are campus-based, such as joining a club or finding a new study spot. Others are personal, like reading more, trying a new routine or making time for community.
To capture the vibe of 2026, I asked York students what they are excited to try this year. Their answers are a reminder that goals can be big, tiny, serious or just plain fun. What matters is that they are yours.
A gentle reminder for January
If you are reading this while already feeling behind, you are not alone. Resolutions are not a pass or fail test. If a goal slips, it can be adjusted. If a goal feels too big, it can be broken into the smallest first step. The point is to move toward a year that feels more like you, one choice at a time.
Trying something new on campus
Many students shared goals that start with one simple step: showing up. That might look like attending a club meeting, going to an event alone or finally checking out a campus service you have heard about but never tried. For some, it is about building community, meeting people outside their program or making campus feel more like home.
Ideas mentioned included joining a new club, going to a workshop, trying intramurals, volunteering for a cause they care about or visiting a cultural or community space on campus.
Student Cassidy Beckford described their goal as “one new ‘York experience’ each month,” which is a fun way to keep things realistic and steady.
Routines that support your brain
A lot of resolutions were less about productivity and more about well-being. Students talked about building routines that make school feel more manageable, like planning weekly meals, setting a consistent sleep schedule or creating a study rhythm that actually works for them.
Some popular goals included: finding a better note taking system, using a calendar more consistently, forming a weekly study group, protecting one evening for rest each week and keeping phone time from taking over study time.
Student Laila Capista said they want to treat studying like a shift: start time, end time, followed by guilt-free rest.
Making room for joy
Students also shared things they are excited to do just because it makes life feel fuller. Reading a certain number of books, starting a creative hobby, saving for a trip, learning a new skill or exploring the city with friends were all mentioned consistently. These goals matter too; they can be the fuel that helps you get through the heavy weeks.
What are you excited to try in 2026?
If you could pick one thing to try this year, what would it be? A new club. A new routine. A new adventure. A new way of taking care of yourself. Whatever it is, York is full of students starting fresh alongside you.