Building Healthy Habits in 2023

Jessica George on 22 February 2023

At the start of the New Year, it is typical for most people to create New Year’s resolutions in the hope of making the new year better than the old. These News Year’s resolutions are often overly complicated, and it is always disappointing when inevitably you fail at keeping them. Rather than create these resolutions, I would like to offer a few simple healthy habits that you could introduce into your life to build a better 2023.

1.Creating a good sleep pattern

The first healthy habit to introduce into 2023 is a healthy sleeping pattern. Sleep is one of the most important things to keep your mind well and to encourage good habits during your day. While getting the full 8 hours of sleep is not typical for a university student, there are a few good habits you can introduce to your life to get the right amount of sleep, to be both rested enough but also in the right mindset to start your day. Setting an alarm every morning is a good first step to take. Waking up at the same time each morning gets your body into a good routine and helps create that healthy sleeping pattern.

2.Eating well

Eating a balanced diet is important for both the health of your body and your mind. While eating five fruits and vegetables per day may seem daunting, introducing just a few healthier foods into your diet can make all the difference. Replacing just one snack per day with a fruit or vegetable is a good way to start and can make all the difference! Starting small and then building up is the best way to introduce healthy habits into your lifestyle. Another helpful step, to make food easier, is to meal prep and make multiple meals at once to help ensure that you always have dinner available even after long days of studying!

3.Planning

One habit that will make 2023 so much easier is to have a weekly plan. This includes writing down classes, study time, nights out with friends and meal plans. Having everything written down is a simple way to take the stress out of the week and make your life easier. It also means that you will not forget any important assignments or tasks because everything is written down. This is a healthy habit that can make life at university much less stressful. Producing a daily checklist means you can plan a reasonable amount of work to get done every day by setting achievable targets.

4.Taking time for yourself

The most important healthy habit to introduce into 2023 is taking time for yourself. Making sure you schedule time to do the things you love – whether it be reading, watching television, arts and crafts – is important to a healthy balance in your life. Carving out time during your busy schedule to just simply do something you love is a healthy habit that everyone should be introducing to 2023! In my opinion, taking care of yourself is the most important habit that you should keep this year.

50 acts to make someone’s day on Random Act of Kindness Day 2023

Felicity Haslin on 22 February 2023

Following ‘Random Act of Kindness Day’, we can all think about one small way to show kindness to those around us, our environment, and ourselves. It doesn’t necessarily mean going out of our way, but the smallest act could make somebody’s day – or even change their life. Here are 50 ideas; pick a few you think you could swing and make a difference today.

  1. Compliment a stranger
  2. Litter pick
  3. Pay for someone else’s thing
  4. Text someone that you haven’t heard from in a while
  5. Give flowers or chocolates to someone
  6. Get a vegan dessert – trust me, they’re hard to find
  7. Make a meal for your flatmates/housemates
  8. Bake something for your neighbours
  9. Tell your friend something you admire about them
  10. Offer to body double for someone struggling with exams
  11. Leave a nice note
  12. Give your favourite person a hug
  13. Tip the server that’s working hard
  14. Give to a charity shop
  15. Play the UN’s vocabulary game at freerice.com to help feed those in need
  16. Send a care package to someone who needs it
  17. Remember something that bothered you about the system at university or work and draft a proposal to change it
  18. Lend your ear to a colleague having a tough day
  19. Download the Finch app and send your contacts some anonymous support from an adorable bird!
  20. Offer to give someone a lift
  21. Tell someone that you’re thinking of them
  22. Send a handwritten letter or postcard
  23. Arrange a potluck dinner with friends
  24. Bring water, tea or coffee to people working or studying with you
  25. Send a jigsaw or book you’ve finished to a family member or friend
  26. Download the ‘Thought Catalog’ app and use CBT techniques to tackle your negative thoughts
  27. Send a thank you card to a medical professional or surgery that helped you out
  28. Email an old teacher that inspired you or made a difference
  29. Tell your lecturer that you found their lecture interesting
  30. Pick up a piece of litter as you pass on the street
  31. Sign up to donate blood
  32. Re-rack weights lying around at the gym
  33. Give snacks to mail carriers and delivery drivers
  34. Write a kind comment
  35. Order an extra side next time you get takeaway and give it to someone struggling financially
  36. Help people feel less alone by interacting with the community on the HeadHelp app
  37. Check on elderly neighbours
  38. Let someone know you support them when they’re experiencing a conflict
  39. Be a courteous driver
  40. Put a kind sticky note on a mirror in a public bathroom
  41. Leave a message in a library book
  42. Leave a pack of sanitary products in a public bathroom
  43. Smile at an anxious-looking stranger
  44. Download a Kindness Calendar for daily ideas 
  45. Make an extra portion of dinner for someone you know who is feeling overwhelmed
  46. Start a candid conversation with your mates about mental health
  47. Learn what goes in your recycling bin
  48. Get yourself some of your favourite food and share it with friends or family
  49. Take 30 minutes for yourself today
  50. Ask someone how they’re doing – really

A small act of kindness can go a long way. So, why not give one (or more!) of these suggestions a go today, in honour of Random Act of Kindness Day 2023.