Author: Gail Ramberg

Starting a journal is a great choice for a new year’s resolution. It will help you organize your thoughts, allow you to reflect on what’s most important to you, and serve as an outlet for anything you need to get off your chest. Most importantly, though, it can act as a tool to help you reach all your other goals.

However, you may find that when you sit down to write in your journal, you have no idea where to begin. Using journal prompts can be the solution: you’ll never have writer’s block and can use your journaling time productively. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Look at the Big Picture

Start by thinking about your biggest dreams. These can be things that you’re unsure are even possible to achieve but that you want to do more than anything. Some journal prompts to help you with this include:

What would be your ideal career after you graduate?

What do you most want to accomplish in life?

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and what would you do?

2. Think About Your Goals

After journaling about your dreams without a specific timeline in mind, you can begin thinking about the nearer term. Consider what you could start doing now to put yourself on the right track to make these things possible. This should show you that even dreams that seem far fetched could be within your reach.

To explore your ideas, use journal prompts like:

What do you want to have achieved by this time next year

What do you need to move closer to your goals?

How can you bring more happiness into your life?

3. Create an Action Plan

The last thing to do is turn all your ideas into actions. This can be particularly difficult for huge goals. In fact, many people feel so overwhelmed at the idea that they end up waiting for some external force to push them onto the right track — which may never happen. If you’re serious about seeing your dreams come true, there’s no better time than the present to take action.

Journaling can help you decide what to do next when you answer questions like:

How can you split large goals into achievable tasks?

What small actions can you take on a daily basis?

How can you make more time for what’s important?

Journaling Tips

To gain the best results from your journaling, there are a few more things you need to do. The key is to let your writing flow. Take whatever inspiration you can from the prompts — as you’re not writing a paper for a class, you don’t need to worry about sticking to the question exactly. Secondly, go into as much depth as you can. This may mean writing long paragraphs or it could involve mind maps and diagrams. Lastly, always be honest. No one ever needs to read your journal except you, meaning this is a judgment-free space.

Just as important as coming up with ideas is having somewhere you can write in your journal in peace. Foundry Princess provides you with the Queens off-campus housing you deserve. Choose from a number of spacious floor plans with between two and five private bedrooms. Plus, our great onsite amenities will also help you meet your goals — for instance, you’ll have access to a fitness center, community clubhouse, and study areas. Book a tour to see our premier student housing for yourself.

To determine whether you need a part-time job, how much you should save before starting university, and how to allocate your budget, you need to know how much you’re likely to spend every month. Since every student is different, there’s no standard figure. Instead, you’ll need to consider each of your expenses and determine where your money will be coming from.

What Expenses Will You Have?

The biggest expense at university is tuition. The good news is you can often avoid paying tuition fees until later by taking out a loan. Alternatively, you may qualify for a grant or receive a scholarship to avoid paying a chunk of tuition fees entirely.

Other big expenses you’ll have include accommodation, textbooks, and possibly transport (such as if you want to have a car at university and will need to cover all the related costs or if you’ll be attending school far from home and plane tickets may be expensive). You’ll also have living expenses like food, clothing, entertainment, school supplies, and personal items.
Calculate how much each of these will cost based on what you (or your parents) currently pay, by talking to other students, and by researching prices for your location.

How Much Will You Receive from Your Parents?

Many students receive a monthly allowance from their parents, especially during the first year when they may not have had the chance to earn any money yet. Your parents may transfer an amount to you or provide you with a credit card to pay for essentials. It’s also important to know what your parents expect you to do in an emergency — for instance, will they be able to lend you money but expect you to pay it back?

Covering the Rest of Your Expenses

If your allowance is not enough to pay for everything you want to do at university, you’ll need to find other ways to cover your costs. Finding a job is the easiest way to build up funds. You can work between semesters at seasonal jobs or year round with a part-time job. If you work throughout the year, you may be able to pick up extra shifts during your spring and winter breaks to increase your earnings.

An alternative option is to start a side hustle, such as housesitting, tutoring, or delivery driving. This will allow you to work more whenever you have the time.

Try to avoid spending all the money you earn. It’s important to have a fund for unexpected expenses and opportunities. Plus, it’s a good idea if you can graduate with some savings, especially if you want to take some time off before searching for a full-time job or if you’d like to start paying off your student loans immediately.

Exactly how much you spend will depend on factors like your lifestyle, where you’re attending university, and your accommodation. Kingston, Ontario, students can save money without sacrificing comfort by living at Foundry Princess. Our affordable suites have everything you need from student housing — along with some extras to make your time at university extra special. For instance, we have a rooftop patio, outdoor swimming pool, dedicated study spaces, and much more. Book a tour before you sign a lease.