You might find January one of the most challenging times of the year, especially after the highlights of the festive period. A good way to counteract the dread is by setting new personal goals to kick start the new year.
King’s is a vibrant centre of research excellence across a range of disciplines, many of which interact with our daily lives. Additionally, studying here unlocks access to resources and facilities that can help us all on our way to better versions of ourselves.
So, why not combine the two? Here are ways you can use our research and your student benefits to inform and aid your new year’s resolutions.
Serving up smarter nutrition
Whether it’s cutting out a specific food, or trying to eat more vegetables, improving the way we eat must be one of the most common goals for the new year. In fact, around two fifths of our resolutions last year focused on improving our health.
King’s is renowned for its expertise in nutrition, and we have published extensive research offering practical insights to improve everyday eating habits.
Researchers from the Department of Nutrition revealed how eating a more diverse range of plant-based foods is associated with better heart and metabolic health including improved cholesterol levels, blood sugar markers and higher intakes of key nutrients.
They said adults in the UK are not eating enough plants so should incorporate more into their daily food habits. Researchers in the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences (FoDOCs) also discovered that following the Mediterranean Diet could benefit gum health.
There are plenty of opportunities to boost your plant intake while on campus. Last May King’s launched Root-to-Tip, a trial to see if incorporating more of the plants we eat into our food can increase our fibre intake and reduce food waste. These options are still available in King’s Food venues, just look for the logo.
One of our Root-to-Tip meals
Make this the year of feeling good
Many of us will set goals like, “I want to be happier this year,” or “I want to have more fun”. At their core, these resolutions reflect a desire for self-improvement, not just physically but mentally too.
Whether that’s by implementing better self-care or taking up a new hobby with the aim of boosting your mental health: around 15% of us made a resolution last year about self-improvement.
Harmonise your wellbeing
Our research has shown that certain hobbies, particularly those around community and group activities can be beneficial for our mental wellbeing. Professor Carmine Pariante, of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), found that group singing is an effective way to treat the symptoms of post-natal depression in new mothers. Dr Edward Nesbit, a Senior Lecturer in Composition, also explored how singing in a choir could have positive impacts on our wellbeing.
There are other group activities you can get involved in around King’s. BeActive is the social and recreational programme available to all students and gives you access to all sorts of activities like football, dance classes and tennis. If you live off-campus, this is available for £35 for a year, or £3 per month. If you live in King’s’ halls of residence, access to BeActive is completely free.
There’s also a myriad of group activities you can take part in through KCLSU. You can easily sign up online to take part in a range of sports groups which cover everything from American Football to Ultimate Frisbee.
If sport isn’t your thing, explore the wide and vibrant array of student societies and relish the opportunity to join a community of like-minded people. You can do something creative with your peers, engage through different faiths and cultures or simply bond over a shared interest.
Less scrolling, more living
We’re spending more time than ever on our phones, especially on social media. On average, UK adults will be looking at their mobiles for three hours and 21 minutes each day. Research co-authored by Professor Helen Fisher, of IoPPN, found that the overall time spent online is linked with increased loneliness.
A way to get away from screens is to get outside, but around 40% of us spend less than one hour outdoors every day. Dr Andrea Mechelli, of IoPPN, found that being outdoors, seeing trees, hearing birdsong, seeing the sky and feeling in contact with nature were associated with higher levels of mental wellbeing.
While out and about, you can use the King’s Move app in conjunction with your phone or fitness tracker to collect points for being active that you can redeem for hot drinks at a King’s food venue, a day gym pass or even a hoody.
Other research led by Dr Pariante, of IoPPN, found that viewing art in galleries has an immediate calming effect on the body, with participants’ cortisol levels dropping significantly while looking at paintings. So why not take advantage of our partnership with The Courtauld Gallery and visit for free? You can relax while you view masterpieces by van Gogh, Cezanne and more.
So, if you have started January with new resolutions, now you have the expert insights and knowledge of the resources to help ensure 2026 is the year you can achieve all your goals.