New Year's day is always pretty sweet. Day 2 (and the rest of January) is when it hits: the urge to do what you do this year...only better!

So far 2014 is unblemished by bad habits and annoying circumstances - and January can feel like a dead month unless you've got a bracing new project to get stuck into.

Here are some ideas to help term 2 get off to a good start for you...

1. Start a new activity

New Year is a satisfying time to start a new hobby or sport - you can really go at it all guns blazing, as frankly those long dark nights need something to jazz them up. It's also easy to feel deflated about your own abilities after a month of doing little more stimulating than drink, eat and squabble with your family...

Signing up to a new project gives you a reminder that you're sharp and ready to make progress on the things that matter to you - whether that's your personal fitness, your artistic ability, or your knack for coordinating friends and making stuff happen. 

Make sure you to the MDXSU.com website now while you have time and sign up to societies that interest you - quick, before term gets underway and you miss all the first meet-ups and events!

Find out more about student opportunities here - you can start your own society, organise campus-wide green iniatives, or help run our new Liberation Assemblies.

2. Spend savvily

Making a simple saving on your usual spending will make your student loan go further than you might expect. Just think about it - one medium Costa coffee costs £2.20 - if you drink one each day you're at uni next week, that comes to £11. Over the course of a term, that makes you £110 poorer.

To save that cash, get your coffee fix and splurge on something fun, try making your own coffee in the morning and  stowing it in a thermos flask. Bam! A full day's supply of coffee, perfect for swigging in between lectures and the Library. Same goes for a little homemade lunch-making - just add tupperware.

Or, you can save money on your usual food shop by getting an NUS Extra card - you can use it to get 10% off at the local Co-op on Hendon Way. You'll earn the £12 outlay back within a matter of weeks! The same card also gives you discounts at a huge number of great shops - including Amazon, ASOS and Dominos Pizza, plus services like Spotify and National Express buses. Bargain!

3. Get inspired by others

Does thinking about trying new things give you a weary feeling? Check in with your friends and see what they're excited about doing this term.

Have a mate who's signing up for a boxing class? Go along and make a new activity into a social one where you motivate each other. Or if your housemate is cutting back on drinking, you could support them with that by having film nights rather than going to the pub. 

Keeping a friend company for a one-off event is a great way to widen your horizons too - it gives you a chance to chat to new (and potentially cute) people, see what you like or don't like, and decide what you want to do with your precious time.

And if you're still feeling dispirited, remember that expert advisers at University can help you with finding motivation and tackling things that play on your mind, whether that's a housing issue, placement questions or financial advice. Plus, we offer an academic advice service here at the SU - so if your workload or feedback is worrying you, book a session by contacting our advisor Belinda (B.Okuya@mdx.ac.uk).

Have an idea for a new activity or society? Want to know more about how to get involved with a particular project? Need support with your coursework? Contact us at info@mdxsu.com and we'll answer your questions!