How to have a happy, healthy school year
The time has come- it’s back to school! For those who feel educationally disengaged, this season may be dreaded or unwelcome, but it doesn’t have to be. Goodness and growth are to be had with a fresh semester ahead, full of new opportunities. Here is a how-to guide for a happy, healthy school year.
The time has come- it’s back to school! For those who feel educationally disengaged, this season may be dreaded or unwelcome, but it doesn’t have to be. Goodness and growth are to be had with a fresh semester ahead, full of new opportunities. Here is a how-to guide for a happy, healthy school year.
The top of your list needs to be prioritizing sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares that eight hours of sleep is “ essential for health and emotional well-being” (CDC, 2024). It seems that when we start to get busy, our sleep patterns are the first thing to go. But this is just the time when our sleep schedule cannot be trampled underfoot. Sleep can help us maintain physical wellness, reduce stress, and improve our attention. These three things are absolutely essential for improvement and triumph during this school year. Protect your sleep by putting away devices before bed, scheduling homework time during the day, and setting a consistent bedtime.
The next is balancing our diet. Now, diet can look different for everyone and our own individual circumstances, but one thing’s for certain: ramen noodles aren’t enough to keep you going all semester! Having a balanced diet with a variety of food groups, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins, can support our immune system and help us avoid sickness. Alongside our diet, staying hydrated also aids our bodies in fighting off infection and keeping us energized.
The last being daily physical activity. Now this doesn’t mean maxing out on weights daily or running a weekly marathon, but doing something daily to get your heart rate up and get your body moving. The Mayo Clinic reminds us, “Any amount of activity is better than none.” (Mayo Clinic, 2023). Daily movement could look like a 10-minute walk, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or riding your bike instead of driving for short distances.
With a focus on sleep, nutrition, and movement, we can start this new semester feeling sharp and ready to thrive. These healthy habits can help ease stress, bring enthusiasm and help you feel refreshed both in and out of the classroom. Let’s make this our best school year yet.
**Photo Courtesy of Dallin Grant
