By Katie von Zedlitz

2020 is a new year and every year people make promises and resolutions that they hope to keep going. However, it is very hard to come up with some good ideas that are not only manageable but also challenging. So here is a list of new ideas and tips to make this new year, your best one yet.

Health and exercise have always been a known factor of everyday life for almost everybody. However, you don’t necessarily have to go crazy at the gym every day in order to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. You can start by taking the stairs instead of resorting to the elevator every time you are faced with the decision. Even Physiology & Behavior found that tired women who climb the stairs for even 10 minutes get bigger energy boosts than those who consume the caffeine equivalent to a can of soda or half a cup of coffee. Not only do you gain the extra energy but you burn calories too. This is just one of the simple things in life that make a big difference in your everyday life. Although walking up the stairs at HB seems like a pain, it really helps in the long run. 

Your overall wellbeing is an important component of your year as well. You can start the year off great by buying a mini plant or even flowers for your room. Studies have shown that being around and near plants lower your stress levels and help to create a calm environment. Plants calm the nervous system and lower your blood pressure. There have also been studies that show that people who work near plants have a better concentration level and satisfaction after completing their work. So maybe consider getting a little succulent or plants for your room and/ or your preferred place of study.

Another beneficial resolution to take up is yoga. As stated before, your wellbeing and calmness are very important for improved happiness and work ethic. Students, especially at HB are swamped with work and stress constantly, and in your life, you need to find a balance and somewhere in between work and sleep that you can calm yourself down and destress. You do not necessarily need to go to a fancy yoga studio, in fact, you can even set up a yoga mat or sit on the floor and pull up a youtube video or a meditation app. All of which can be done for free if needed. 

Another very important part of your life is to stay hydrated, and I don’t mean drinking any liquid to take your thirst away, I mean water. There are many studies on the benefits of water and how it is essential for your body to function properly. If you only get 6 hours of sleep or less, which I bet most of the school does, then you are more likely to get dehydrated more easily than someone of 8 or more hours. This dehydration can be pushed away but very bad for your health if untreated, so whether you think you need it or not, it is very important to get enough water each day.

Another great resolution is to sanitize your phone daily. Especially with the flu and many sicknesses going around the school, it is very important to sanitize your phone. You bring it everywhere and place it on things you know are nasty. Even if you don’t think it affects your health, it can cause sickness through the bacteria buildup on the screen. Phones carry 10 times the amount of bacteria than a toilet seat. You should try and invest in some Lysol disinfection wipes, they don’t contain bleach making it safe for most phones. 

Another beneficial resolution is to start listening to upbeat music. Although music seems like something that wouldn’t necessarily mess with your health it definitely affects your mood. It lowers your stress levels, reduces pain in exercise, and elevates your mood. Go through 2020 as a new and improved version of yourself and listen to happy music. If you have Spotify, you can type in happy playlists and listen to any of the ones listed or keep your music and just add a few more happy songs to brighten up the mood. 

2020 is a new year when you can be and turn into whoever you want to be. You can start out by doing one resolution and adding one more each month. This way it is not so overwhelming and you can ease into the new year at your own pace. Your wellbeing and health are very important and I highly believe that if you follow these resolutions and/or come up with your own, 2020 will be a year to remember.