With 2026 still feeling fresh in the air, now is the perfect time to solidify your goals for 2026. Although we often make false promises at the start of the year–aspiring to become the best version of ourselves–simple habits can fulfill this prophecy.
One widely-known objective is to eat healthier, but how exactly can this be achieved if you don’t want to form a strict diet? Personally, this year I aim to consume minimal energy drinks, as they are known to pose multiple health risks. According to The National Library of Medicine, “energy drinks have deleterious effects on a broad spectrum of bodily organs.” These effects most commonly involve, “anxiety, gastrointestinal disturbances, dehydration, nervousness, and tachycardia.” Although energy drinks provide short-term attentiveness that’s helpful for late school nights, the effects certainly aren’t worth it in the long-run.
Following the topic of energy, another health-beneficial goal is improving the amount of sleep you get each night. Even though schoolwork can become overwhelming, especially if your time outside of school is occupied by a job or sport, time is always manageable. One factor that can also play a large role in this is procrastination–something nearly everyone struggles with. A simple way to help with this involves breaking large tasks into smaller chunks. This can be accomplished using the Pomodoro Technique, which involves setting a timer for 25 minutes and then taking a short five to ten minute break before restarting this process, as described by Georgetown University. By doing this, degrading tasks can be completed in a timely manner, increasing the amount of sleep you get, even if it’s only by an hour. Remember, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that high school students should aim for eight to ten hours of sleep per night, and being deficient in these hours can present serious health concerns.
Another concept that can also aid in limiting procrastination is to reduce your screen time. Nearly everyone blames phones for our problems, but at the end of the day, living in the real-world proves to be an effective solution. As noted by the Center for Disease Control, teenagers tend to average around four or more hours of screen time a day, and those who do often report increased feelings of anxiety and depression. Other effects of excessive screen time can include social isolation, reduced sleep quality, eye strain, early neurodegeneration, and thinning of the cerebral cortex, reported by Stanford Medicine. By spending the daily recommended time of under two hours on your phone, these side effects can be prevented, and you can have more time to do productive tasks or even pick up new hobbies.
Aside from personal improvements, it’s important to also care for the world around you. Although shopping the latest and trendiest items is ideal, the effect this has on the environment can be detrimental. Most of the trendy clothes are produced by fast fashion brands, with some of the most popular ones including Edikted, Shein, H&M, and Zara. Despite their accessibility and affordability, garments from these companies are often low-quality, destructive to the atmosphere due to carbon emissions and excessive amounts of water needed,, and pile up in landfills when the item goes out of style. To be more conscious of the earth, a great alternative is shopping secondhand. Thrift stores offer a wide range of clothing, from jeans to shoes, and even accessories if you’re looking for a unique touch to your outfits. Furthermore, even if you are someone who prefers to shop online, apps like Depop, Vinted, and ThredUp offer fashionable options for great prices. Not only is thrifting entertaining,it allows you to build a unique wardrobe while reducing pollution one step at a time.
At the end of the day, perfection is subjective, but the efforts we pursue are what truly matter. By considering just one of these goals, you can not only improve yourself, but unlock the potential to make the world a better place.
