The New Year is here and with that comes a lot of new things and fresh starts. If you are anything like the rest of the world, you have probably made some resolutions you want to keep this year. Whether you want to eat healthier and go to the gym more, focus on being more mindful, or you have a new career goal in mind, they all require you to stay focused and motivated. Keeping New Year’s resolutions can be super tough because it requires forming a new habit. In order to help keep yourself on track with your new decision, you want your living space to reflect the same commitment and motivation you have towards your resolution. To help out, I have created a list of dorm decor ideas that will help you stay motivated and keep those resolutions!

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Vision Board

To start off the new year right, one of the first things you can do to keep yourself on track is to create a visual representation of all the goals you hope to achieve in the new year. Creating a vision board is not only an amazing way to keep yourself focused, but it can also be a really cool piece of dorm decor. Vision boards are really customizable to those who are creating it, but there are quite a few different ways to make one. 

The first step is to get your base. In the photo above, the base is a corkboard. You could also use a chalkboard, poster board, or even just your wall! After you figure that out, you will want to think about all of your goals and things you want to accomplish in the upcoming year. These things can be anything from personal fitness goals to landing a certain job. 

Then, you get to the real part of the project, which is creating your vision. Gather photos, prints, notes, etc. that represent these goals. This is going to look very different for everyone. It could be a photo of a vacation you wish to take, it could be a set number you have in mind for your GPA, or whatever else is important to you. You can design your vision board with a color palette to match the rest of your room decor or you could go free for all and use a bunch of magazine clippings. Remember that vision boards are just supposed to represent your goals and that they do not need to be designed so that others can understand them. After completing your vision board, hang it up and there you go! You have a super motivational piece of wall art. 

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Meditation Stools & Poufs

A great way to stay focuses and motivated to reach your goals this New Year is to practice mindful meditation. It might even be one of your resolutions itself. If you plan on taking meditation more seriously during the new year, it is probably a good idea to have a designated area for this meditation. There are specially crafted stools and poufs that are made just for meditation. You can find them in all different shapes and patterns. These are not only going to encourage you to keep up your meditation practice, but it also is just another spot for people to sit in such a crowded dorm room. They are also small and easy to store away. This meditation stool or pouf will remind you daily to get in your meditation, which will, in turn, help you to stay laser-focused on your goals. 

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Desk Organizers

Along with staying motivated and mindful, staying organized is an important part of achieving any goal, no matter what it is. When any part of your life is chaotic, it causes a ripple effect. So, keeping your dorm room clean and organized can help make everything else go smoother. One of the most important pieces of your dorm room is your desk. It is not only where you likely do all of your homework and studying, it is also where you do a ton of goal setting and planning. On top of all that, it is a part of your room that you have to look at every day, so the last thing you want to see is a disorganized mess. 

Get some simple desktop organizers to help sort out the space. As long as everything has a place to  go, it should make your life a lot easier. Desktop organizers are available in tons of cool designs so you will for sure be able to find something that matches your other decor.

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Crystal Display

For those of you who have made a decision to be more mindful, this piece of decor is for you. It may not interest everyone, but crystals are very popular among a lot of people. Different types of crystals promote different energies and can be very helpful to anyone. So, creating a wall display with all of your crystals in one place is a great way to promote getting things done… and let’s be honest crystals look absolutely stunning either way! If you already have a crystal collection you are ahead of the game. Just find a shelf or window sill to display them on. You can also find more extensive wall display cases for those more serious collectors.

 If you don’t have any crystals and are looking to start a collection, check out this crystal guide. Some standout stones that may help you with your New Years’ resolutions are Apatite which promotes creative expression and inspiration or Aventurine which helps with decision making and is all-around good luck!

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Dorm Friendly Fitness Kit

For a ton of people, fitness is the top of their list of resolutions when New Year's rolls around. For students living in a dorm, this can be especially difficult commitment to keep. To help keep things organized and easy, have a collection of dorm friendly fitness items. For example, a small pair of dumbells, some resistance bands, and a medicine ball can do a lot for your health and they are all things that can be easily tucked away in an underbed storage solution. 

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Hang Affirmations

Similar to a vision board, hanging affirmations makes sure that there is a motivational reminder at every turn. Affirmations are usually just small quotes or reminders that encourage you throughout your day. You can find them anywhere in all shapes and sizes. You can print out a bunch of quotes you like on regular printer paper and use washi tape to hang them on your walla for a super budget-friendly option. You can also find canvases and prints anywhere they sell art and choose the ones that get you moving. Another idea with these affirmations is to create a gallery wall in your dorm. Get a collection of affirmations in different shapes and sizes and colors and hang them in a collage on your dorm room walls. This creates a super motivational space and some really cool wall art. Remember when choosing your affirmations that these are supposed to be more encouraging to your abilities than anything else. Creating an affirmation plan can also benefit your mental wellbeing and long term goals.

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Introduce A Mindful Corner

Dedicate a small area of your room to all of your mindful practices, no matter what they are. Consider including a yoga mat, or meditation mat. You could include a few previously mentioned decor ideas like the crystal display or the meditation stool. This is the place where you can burn incense (if your dorm permits), read, and do your morning meditation. Just having a designated area where you know you want to do better can be very helpful. 

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A Dry-Erase or Chalkboard Planner

In most cases, organization is the key to achieving a lot of your goals. A planner is the perfect way to stay on top of things. When you are in college, you have so much going on that a simple notebook is not going to cut it. You have to juggle classes and assignments, a part-time job or internship, personal fitness, and wellness, and any other personal goals. Try getting a wall planner to help get everything down in one place. Something like this Gold Confetti Organization Kit is perfect! You have a tile with a monthly calendar, where you can write down any appointments or other important dates. Then, you have a large weekly tile in which you can write out a more detailed version of your week. You can ut any assignments due or other tasks that need to be done each day. Next, you have a tile for any notes. Lastly, you have a cork tile to pin up any notes, appointment cards, or reminders that you don’t want to forget.