Individually we have little control over the world and particularly right now with so many worrisome headlines, we more than ever want to help. While we have such little control over our world, we have a great deal of control of our own lives. With 2021 just beginning we can create personal goals to improve. “New year, new me” is such an overused phrase we can lose sight of why people say it. The new year calls us to reflect upon ourselves as we symbolically enter a new beginning, a rebirth. We should take advantage of this fresh start by developing healthy habits which will benefit our lives and hopefully take our minds off of the problems of the world. I have compiled a list of five habits that will improve your 2021.

#1  |  Make your bed

Admiral William H. McRaven wrote a book called Make Your Bed, which talks about ten principles he learned while in the Navy Seals. Admittedly I’ve only read the first chapter where he talks about his first principle, but that lesson alone can change a life. The Admiral says that while training as a Navy Seals the first thing he had to do after waking up was make his bed. The instructor would check everyone's bed for perfection. McRaven started each day with one task he completed well, one thing he could be proud of. This productive start to his day would set him up to complete more tasks well throughout his day. McRaven also mentions that in tough times making his bed kept some consistency in his life, so getting in the habit of doing one thing well at the start of every day now can help you too in the long run too.

#2  |  Become more confident

Confidence is such an important characteristic to attain. Confidence reduces anxiety and self doubt and motivates people to take action. People with self-confidence have been found to score higher in school, as well. It takes time and courage to improve your self-confidence, but is well worth it. Zen Habits’ article “25 Killer Actions to Boost Your Self-Confidence” gives some good tips including dress nicely, stand tall, and imagine negative thoughts as bugs and mentally squashing them when you have one. Entrepreneur also has some notable tips in their article “10 Things You Can Do to Boost Self-Confidence” including “visualize yourself as you want to be” and “question your inner critic.” If you are feeling as though you want to completely get out of your comfort zone, I recommend the 100 days of rejection challenge Entrepreneur mentions. This challenge requires you to ask someone an appropriate question you know you’ll receive a negative response to everyday for 100 days. An example of a question that could be asked is asking if there are free refills for food at a restaurant. We often don’t ask what we want in fear of rejection. This challenge desensitizes us to the shame of rejection and will allow us to be confident enough to ask for what we really want in life.

#3  |  Separate your work and rest environments

The pandemic has limited the amount of spaces in which to work. Libraries are closed for studying, schools don't allow students to stay after, and studying in cafes is risky. And while these are all great options for places to study in the future, we must make due with what we have available at the moment and for most people that means your homes. It is so tempting to work in your bed while at home because of how cozy and convenient it is, but taking the time to get out of bed and work at a different spot can be very beneficial. Defining an area in your living space where you work and another area where you rest will wire your mind to variously focus and relax depending on your setting. This will improve both your productivity and sleep quality. Doing this may be harder for some people than others depending on the resources and quiet spaces that are available in their living space, but with some creativity this can be achieved by many. Maya Angelou, poet and civil rights activist, took separating her work and rest environments very seriously. She went as far as renting hotel and motel rooms to work in instead of her home, where she would relax. We should take her accomplishments as a testament to the power of separating your spaces.

#4  |  Sleep more

Getting a good night's sleep has so many benefits it's mind boggling! On average, it's recommended that teens should get 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Getting enough sleep reduces stress and blood pressure, and improves memory, productivity, the immune system, and your mood. For some it may be hard to fall asleep, so some tips to make it easier are practice yoga before bed, lower the temperature of your room, and avoid checking your phone and clock. As I mentioned before, by not working in your bed your mind will feel more relaxed which will help you fall asleep as well.

#5  |  Drink more water

Drinking enough water is so important. “Enough” means about 2 to 3 quarts of water per day for teens (8-12 cups). Drinking enough water will be an energizer, prevent headaches, normalize blood pressure, cushion joints, and help digestion. This does not mean chug a gallon before bed, though! Drinking a lot, quickly does not reap any of the benefits of a paced water intake. Spreading out your water consumption will allow your body time to process the water and hydrate itself, but when you gulp water, the water will leave your system sooner and therefore you won’t gain the benefits of drinking it. I recommend getting a water bottle with time markers so you can pace your water consumption throughout the day.