New year, better me

The school year is three weeks in and the times of getting up past noon and binging Netflix all day are now reserved for weekends and holidays. Although it may seem that Thanksgiving break is too far away too think about, the new school year can be a great way to get a fresh start. In my new blog, “Destination Health”, I’ll share some ideas to improve chances of success in students’ academics in regards to mental well-being and physical health.

This isn’t some of that “new year, new me” nonsense, but more of a “new year, better me” thing. Here are a few ways you can get started.

Eating Right

Eating the right foods is essential to the human body, but especially students, because it gives the brain the nutritional support to perform at the highest level. Certain foods like kiwis, chia seeds, and walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids which are known to improve learning and memory. There also studies which show that maintaining a healthy diet can reduce the effects of brain injury and lead to quicker recoveries, which is very beneficial for student athletes in sports with high concussion rates, such as football and soccer.

Sleep Tight

One of the most overlooked habits by high school students throughout their teenage years is getting a good night’s sleep. Staying up past midnight doing homework and writing essays is not a strange setting for most students, but the truth of the matter is that it’s just not good for you. The average amount of sleep that a teenager gets is 7 – 7 ¼ hours a day, however they actually need 9 – 9 ½ hours. It will be so much easier to get up early in the morning and maintain a better mood throughout the day with a good night’s sleep the night before.
Some of the best ways to make sure to get as much sleep as possible are to:

1. avoid caffeine
2. maintain a routine sleeping schedule
3. avoid watching t.v and using a cellphone before going to bed. So put away the textbooks, wrap up the notes and head to bed, because there’s a lot of catching up to do.

Don’t Freak Out, Work Out

Fitting exercise into a busy schedule isn’t always the easiest thing to do, although it is absolutely necessary. It has been proven that there is a strong link between exercise and mood. It promotes neural growth, reduces inflammation in the brain, and activity patterns that promote feelings of calmness. Exercise has also shown to aid in anxiety in that it relieves stress, tension, boosts physical and mental energy, and enhances well-being through the release of endorphins.

It doesn’t have to be the dreaded treadmill in a stench filled, humid gym surrounded by people trying to impress each other at the weight bench. Finding something you have fun doing will make exercising a much more enjoyable experience, and make the time go by faster. There are yoga and barre studios, zumba, and even surfing simulation classes that are done on a, you guessed it, surfboard.

With AP classes, college applications, SAT and ACT testing thick in the air, it isn’t surprising that high school can be a stressful time for teens. There’s no sure way to eliminate all the obstacles teenagers face, but with just a couple lifestyle changes, students can be on the road to a well-balanced, well-rounded school year.