With the start of a new year, the idea of a new start is very appealing, but often New Year’s Resolutions are too difficult to uphold. As for people looking to make a small change to improve their lives, here are some easy ideas.

• Drink more water
  • Drinking enough water is often a struggle, though three liters of water is the amount of water that the Mayo Clinic recommends for daily consumption and that goal can be hard to hit for people with a packed schedule. An easy way to help is to download a water reminder app like Plant Nanny, which waters a virtual plant every time you drink water.
  • Or try drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up. If you leave a glass of water by your bedside it makes it even easier to wake up your digestive system and start your day hydrated.
• Limit procrastination
  • Procrastination or waiting until the last minute to complete a task often leads to a ton of stress and makes it hard to submit a quality project or work.
  • “Not procrastinating this school year helped me get college and scholarship apps in way before the deadlines, and that has made life way less stressful,” said Simone Butler, senior.
  • Try the 60/10 method, for sixty minutes work on the task needed to be completed and after the sixty minutes has elapsed, set a timer for ten minutes and take a break.
  • “Putting my phone on silent, so it isn’t a homework distraction,” said Sophia Bowen, senior, helps her limit procrastination.
  • Consider touching it once, if you have a to-do list that seems overwhelming go through the list. If a task will take you less than five minutes, try to get it finished. Often times, starting is the hardest part.
• Make the most of your mornings
  • The morning usually passes by in a blurry haze, but try to set the tone for your day in the morning by making the most of it.
  • “In the morning, I listen to Bible Studies, the news, or other discussions on YouTube and it’s been a great way to start my day,” said Simone Butler.
  • Try a short workout in the morning; just ten-fifteen minutes can give a sense of accomplishment and a burst of endorphins to brighten your day.
• Save money
  • With college and other activities just around the corner, the need for cash is always apparent.
  • Try saving your excess change in a mason jar. If you find yourself tempted to open it before the jar is full, hot glue it shut!
  • Limit going off for lunch, although those five-ten dollar purchase don’t  seem like a lot in the moment, these small purchases can add up to hundreds a year.
• Get some rest
  • Sleep is one of the most necessary functions of the human body, but often we get too little sleep.
  • Try for a power nap. When you need to wake up early for school and have homework and afterschool events, a fifteen-twenty minute nap can help you recharge, according to WebMD.
  • If chronic sleeplessness plagues you, try checking with your doctor and see about adding a melatonin supplement to help you sleep.
• Take time to reflect
  • Taking five minutes at the end of the day to reflect on what has happened is a good way to decompress and find gratitude for the life you live. It can even help you sleep better, according to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being.
  • “Recently I’ve been journaling every night which has helped me calm down before I go to sleep and organize my thoughts. It seems like a simple thing but it has actually helped me get into a routine at night. The only thing challenging about it is that sometimes I would forget but once I can get into a constant loop of things it has been an improvement,” said Miranda McCauley, sophomore.

Even when you feel overwhelmed with the pressure of maintaining a large or vague resolution, try breaking it up. Remember, it only takes twenty-one days to form a habit.