As we go through days when we feel bogged down and tired, it's important that we take care of ourselves. It's also important that we spend time with ourselves and get to know who we are a little bit better. Instead of a typical routine of wake up, study, class, eat, repeat, we should spice up our lives a little more. Instead of playing on our phones or watching Netflix all day, here are some ways to utilize your time more and develop some healthy habits in your every day lives:
1. Wake up early. We all love to sleep in, but studies show that morning people get a lot more done with their days and are more productive. Start by setting your alarm clock a half hour earlier than your usual wake up time, and gradually make your way to the crack of dawn. I used to wake up at 10 a.m. every morning, telling everyone I could never be a morning person. Now, believe it or not, "sleeping in" for me is 8 a.m. You can be a morning person, you just have to train yourself!
2. Exercise more. Make a promise with yourself that whenever you need to shower, you have to earn it. That is, go on a run, even if it's for ten minutes. No equipment in your house? No excuse! There are plenty of weight free exercises you can do in your home. Start with ten minutes a day of some type of exercise. You'll feel refreshed and healthier in no time!
3. Keep a journal. Our minds are running 24/7, so why not write down our thoughts? There are days where we feel super motivated and come up with great ideas, write them down! There's also days where we're upset and just want to be by ourselves, write it out with yourself. Writing sparks creativity and ideas, and happens to be very therapeutic. Do this when you wake up, or write before you go to bed. It's a great way to get to know yourself more.
4. Eat healthier. You are what you eat! Take care of your body. And eat breakfast; so many people skip the most important meal of the day, but it is absolutely crucial that you within the first hour of waking up to energize yourself! Read the ingredients of what you're about to cook for yourself. If you have a hard time pronouncing that twenty-letter word, maybe you should reconsider what you're eating. It's extremely important to be aware of what you put in your body. What seems harmless may actually be causing a lot of health problems in your future.
5. Read. I don't mean tweets or Facebook statuses. Pick up a book! Most people just say they hate reading, as if it's an acceptable excuse to not read. Reading is good for your brain, and it's actually easy to get into the habit of reading. If you're stressed out in life about school, work, or anything, reading is a great way to get away from all those problems and be submerged into another world. It's the best way to escape for a little.
6. Drink water. Similar to eating healthier foods, drinking water is vital for your body. Always keep a water bottle on you. Follow the simple 8x8 rule: drink eight eight-ounce glasses a day. Your body needs water to survive. Keep yourself hydrated and release those toxins from your body. There are more benefits to drinking water than to simply survive. Water helps your skin, hair, and energizes your muscles.
7. Pick up a hobby. If you find yourself doing a typical routine every day and nothing special, switch it up! Find something that you like to add to your everyday life and find time for it. Learn to knit, draw, do yoga, play a sport. We often get drained into doing only the bare essentials everyday, so it's important that we do stuff to keep ourselves healthy and rejuvenated!
8. Accept your body. This is the most important of them all. Learn to love yourself! And I think by developing the healthy habits above, you'll come closer to that day by day. Learn to live for yourself, and not living just to survive. Life is much more than school and work, it's about finding yourself and taking care of yourself from the inside out. Accept who you are, find your passions, and use your extra time during your days to better yourself. There's more to do than just Netflix and play on your phone!
