Going through school and working hard for good grades is important and admirable, but it sometimes leaves people feeling like they’re not accomplishing anything. That’s when it’s time to look inward. The best way to analyze yourself- the good and the bad- is to look at your habits. Maybe it’s time to drop some old habits and work on building new ones! Below are some healthy habits to consider to get you going in the right direction!
1. A consistent sleeping schedule
People nowadays act like getting minimal sleep is some badge of honor to be earned. A tribute to just how hard you work. Sleep, however, is one of the most important parts of your day. Without sleep, your body’s functions are drastically cut back and effects can be both physical and mental. Developing and sticking to a consistent sleep schedule can improve your life in various and important ways.
2. Constant hydration
Much like sleep, staying hydrated is extremely important for your body to function at optimal levels. Staying hydrated will keep up your energy, concentration, and general health. The recommended daily intake for adult women is almost 3 liters! That may seem like a lot, but it’s a goal we should all be striving for. Tip: Invest in a cool water bottle, if you haven’t already!
3. Weekly Fitness Goals
To the daily gym-goers, we salute you! However, if daily gym trips aren’t for you, try setting weekly goals! For example, you could plan to go to the gym [x] times a week, or simply say, “I am going to run around the Res this many times this week.” The beauty of this kind of planning is that things like rain or unexpected plans won’t mess you up too much!
4. Punctuality
When it comes to being late to class, to parties, or to events, I am a repeat-offender. It’s something I’ve been working really hard to change because being early is such an important skill to have! People who are always running late are constantly stressed and constantly sweaty. Just me? People who plan ahead and run on-schedule, however, can walk to class leisurely or stop to grab a coffee along the way. Doesn’t that sound lovely?
5. Daily “You Time”
This is the most important thing on this list. Taking some time for yourself every day helps to keep your head on straight and avoid getting overwhelmed! You could use this time to catch up on a show, drink some tea, crochet a scarf, read, make a new playlist- whatever your heart desires! Make it you and make it awesome.
6. Daily Connection
Call someone you love every day! The week can become so hectic and full of daunting tasks that we forget to reach out to our loved ones. I call my parents or my friends almost every day and it’s always something I look forward to. It’s a nice break and a great reminder that there are people who love and support you!
7. Daily Disconnection
Some days it suddenly occurs to me that I’ve been using one device or another all day. It’s important to make time to get away from screens and simply be. Try taking a walk without your phone or utilizing techniques like meditation or yoga. Taking this time will give you a nice break from your work and leave you refreshed and ready to focus!
8. Daily acts of kindness
Do something nice for someone else every day. Although no one ever says it, doing nice things for other people benefits you, too! Whether it’s something for a friend to remind them that you care or something for a perfect stranger, just do something without any expectation of a returned favor.
9. Journaling
Journaling can be extremely beneficial to our mental health and relaxation! For people like me who aren’t into diary entries, try checking out some “list” journaling ideas! Pinterest is definitely a hotspot for these! Something I’ve done that helps me immensely is writing down everything I’m stressed about right before bed. It doesn’t completely wash away the worry, but it does relax me a bit.
10. 5 Minute Tidy-ups
This may be the best technique for keeping your room clean! Just take 5 minutes before bed to quickly tidy up a few things. If you do this every day, your room can never get totally out of control! It’s also another trick to help relax a little before bed! Hint: I usually focus on my desk because people always say a cluttered desk makes for a cluttered mind!
I hope any one of these habits are helpful to you! If you already have some of these habits then congrats, you’re doing something that other people admire! If these are things you strive for, I’m right there with you. Good luck out there and keep striving for more!
Sources
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