Being More Active
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is working out more often. A modification of this resolution that is often left unaccomplished is being more active. This can include a short walk outside, playing with pets in a backyard, going to a fun workout class, and going to a typical gym. Many studies have shown that outdoor activities have many health benefits even if it is for a short period of time. Starting with smaller workouts can help people achieve their goals as they put less pressure on themselves this new year.
Mindful Scrolling on Social Media
TikTok, one of the world’s fastest growing social media platforms, has been a strong influence on the minds of teenagers today. Amongst TikTok are Instagram and Snapchat where people are constantly being influenced on their appearance, products they buy, and information they believe. It is important to be reminded that while scrolling, teens must be aware of what information they are falling into. With the new year upon us, limiting social media scrolling and what information you like is essential to clearing your mind and being open to new things.
Fixing Sleep Schedules
Many students have slowly started to decrease their time of rest as they become high school students. Along with not getting enough sleep, they are not getting good sleep as many high school students find themselves waking up throughout the night. Sleep hygiene, a new term, used to define the habits you create to improve your sleep each night. A few new habits that can be implemented into routines can be sleeping with an eye mask, removing electronic devices from the room, not having caffeine eight hours prior to sleep, and setting a consistent bedtime. Implementing these habits can improve the quality of sleep you get as well as the amount of time you sleep.
Healthy Dietary Habits
For many, the New Year inspires motivation to make conscious and healthy dietary habits. This lifestyle starts with a healthy mindset. Understanding that food is fuel is important in making nutritional decisions that ultimately nourish and benefit the body. Making time for breakfast, having healthy snacks, creating a meal plan, drinking less soda, and including fruits and veggies are a few simple ideas. Adding 30 minutes of walking or elevated heart rate is essential for feeling great in 2024.
Limiting Procrastination
“Should I finish that homework assignment that was due three days ago? Should I clean my room now? It is okay, I will start it later.”
Procrastination plagues our school, social, and personal time—we all do it. Reducing the number of decisions made throughout the day by creating habits will help reduce procrastination. For example, picking out what clothes to wear the night before or creating a to-do list in the morning allows for less choice. Another tip is implementing the “Next Action” mindset. This allows the individual to focus on something’s doable—something that is achievable and then moving onto the next task.
