Do you usually wait until January of a new year to start your new habits and “improvements” like most do? Although it may be a common tradition to start your New Year’s resolutions on the first day of the new year, a novelty trend has started. People are beginning to work on their resolutions in October so that by the time the new year rolls in, these goals will have developed into positive habits.
If someone asks you, “What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2025?” If your response is to get good grades on exams. Well, if that’s the case – then, you’re boring. Your life does not solely revolve around school, although certain aspects of your future are dependent on your academic success, it is not the only thing that you should value.
Everyone should definitely have a few strong habits. For example, getting to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, exercising regularly, making time for yourself and drinking 2.5 – 3 liters of water daily are all very beneficial habits. These are fundamental actions that ensure that you stay as healthy as possible.
By waking up and going to sleep at the same time every day you create a sleep cycle for yourself and create some consistency in your life. This allows your brain to process and store information well, improves focus and problem-solving skills, and can even help your metabolism’s ability to fight disease. In addition to this, the average 16 year old should be sleeping 8-10 hours per day.
Moreover, exercising every day, of course, keeps the body healthy and fit, and keeps the blood flowing. Also, drinking a sufficient amount of water every day has many benefits for the body, such as : improving skin health, increasing energy, enhancing physical performance and much more.
In addition to your physical health, you should also prioritize your emotional and social health by having daily self-wellness checks and scheduling regular social time whether with family or friends.
Now that I have you rethinking your habits and goals, you may be pondering, “How do I create a new habit?” It’s not a simple answer – it’s a process with many steps, all proven by John Green. John Green is the author of a book called Atomic Habits. Atomic Habits focuses on how to create new positive habits that will last and get rid of old bad ones. His 6 tips are: 1) start small, 2) consistency over intensity, 3) self-compassion, 4) track your progress, 5) find joy in the process, and 6) accountability and community.
To develop your habits, it is important to start by creating small manageable goals rather than diving straight into the deep end and being too overwhelmed to stay consistent. Building habits isn’t about doing something perfectly or intensely for a short time, but rather about doing it consistently over a long period.
While for every student academics are a central focus, in order to earn excellent grades and reach our goals it is imperative that all students recognize how important taking care of the whole person is, and by making small changes, tiny habits can transform into huge personal successes.
If you want to find out more about how to create realistic habits and get rid of bad habits then I recommend reading John Green’s novel, Atomic Habits, which can be found in our very own FIS Library.
