Pep rallies and football games are back in swing at high schools across Houston as students are settling into the school-year routine. In all the hustle and bustle of classes, projects, tests, and extracurricular activities, it can be easy to put your self last. However, when life gets stressful, it becomes even more important to practice good self-care. As a gentle reminder, here are the rest of our tips for making a success of the busy school year ahead: (if you missed #1-5, see our August post!)
- Share your light with others. We are designed to live in relationship with others, including friends, family, teachers, and mentors. Being of service to others and building connections in your community, whether through volunteer work, participating in a club or organization that speaks to your passions, or having coffee with a potential new friend helps you build a beautiful web of connections to others in your life.
- Practice gratitude. Keep a gratitude journal, write thank you emails/cards, and say thank you frequently. While this might seem at first blush like something you’re only doing for others, research has shown that practicing gratitude can also have some significant positive effects on your own mental health and outlook.
- Step outside of your comfort zone into your growth zone. Try out for the soccer team, volunteer to solve that math problem on the board, or sit at a lunch table with that group you’ve wanted to get to know better. While there’s no denying these can feel like pretty scary actions to take in the moment, pretty soon you’ll find that your comfort zone has increased in size and it’s time to move on to a new challenge.
- Take care of your self. Learning comes much more smoothly when you are exercising regularly, getting good sleep (9 hours!), and eating 3 nutritious (protein, healthy fats, and water are brain food) meals a day. Give yourself a few minutes each day to check in with yourself and ask yourself what you need…you might be surprised by the answer. More on this next month!
- Be gentle with your self. High school is a journey, and it can often feel like the map and the compass are just out of reach. The good news is that leaves you free to blaze your own trail!