Balancing school, extracurriculars, and sports often leaves a student feeling tired and like there is little time for healthy habits. However, making small changes can improve the overall mental and physical health of students without overwhelming an already busy schedule. Prioritizing health doesn’t mean sacrificing other things on your schedule to achieve healthy habits—it’s about making smarter choices with the time you have. By ensuring that students have quick and effective healthy habits, they can reduce stress, boost energy, and feel great. Here are some simple ways to stay healthy, even when school (or life) gets packed.
One of the best and easiest ways to start off the day is by eating a nutritious and healthy breakfast. Options like eggs, smoothies, yogurt, or fruit are a few healthy choices instead of sugary cereals, pancakes, and french toast. Tea, matcha, juice, or simply just water are some great substitutions for the typical energy drinks, coffee, and soda. They only take a few minutes to prepare, but all offer loads of long-lasting energy. Skipping breakfast often leads to fatigue, tiredness, and difficulty concentrating, so it is highly important to never miss out on this meal!
Getting enough sleep is another crucial part to maintaining good healthy habits. Dr. Merrill, a sleep expert and neuroscientist at the National Institute of Health, says, “Sleep services all aspects of our body in one way or another: molecular, energy balance, as well as intellectual function, alertness and mood.” When you are tired, you can’t function your best. It can sometimes be caused by attempting to stay up an extra hour to finish homework or study for that test tomorrow, but poor sleep can make focusing harder and lead to burnout. Setting a consistent bedtime, putting aside devices, and taking naps can help a student feel refreshed and productive.
It is important to stay active! Staying active doesn’t require a lot of time, effort, or equipment. Students can quickly fit a simple workout into their schedule, such as stretches in the morning or a short bodyweight workout in the afternoon. Even simple activities like taking the stairs or walking between classes can help students stay energized. Also, going outside for a little bit every day is key to reducing stress.
Managing stress through organizing and mindfulness can improve a student’s mental and physical health. Packing healthy snacks, like fruit and nuts, is a great start. Taking breaks during study sessions, deep breathing, and meditation can keep students focused, and feeling amazing. By planning ahead, students can stay on top of their health and not have to worry about sacrificing anything in their packed schedules. If stress becomes too overwhelming, try taking manageable steps and setting realistic goals for yourself to help reduce feelings of being too overwhelmed.
Incorporating healthy habits into your busy schedule might seem a bit difficult at first, but after a while, you will get used to it. Simple practices like eating a nutritious breakfast, staying active, getting enough sleep, and maintaining stress are easy ways to make a significant difference. By taking baby steps to prioritize health, students will feel more focused, energized, and confidently more prepared to handle the challenges of a hectic schedule. Remember, setting some time for your well-being is an investment in both academic successes and personal happiness. It is not impossible to start your healthy habits, and the earlier you start, the better you’ll feel in the long run!
