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.

Valentine’s Day: The Practice of Self-Love 

Hannah Pickett on 14 February 2023

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, couples all over the country are being sucked into the commercial pull of roses, teddy bears and dinner reservations. But in this push to declare your love for someone else, there is often little regard for loving yourself. It’s 2023 and it’s time to expand the narrative. 

Self-love is one of the most valuable practices to keep, but it is often one of the hardest. As someone who has recently started a journey towards self-love and self-compassion, here are my go-to tips to get you started on your own journey. 

Invest in a good journal

For me, writing is a form of release. With that, something that has massively helped me become more in tune with myself has been journaling. Taking a few minutes out of each day to jot down any thoughts – positive or negative – allows me to unclutter my mind and feel much less clouded. Along with that, I have found that practising gratitude can be invaluable. In documenting daily achievements, no matter how small, can really help give a positive spin on life. 

Challenge yourself to have a digital detox 

Do you find yourself glued to your phone most of the time and scrolling endlessly on social media? I do too and if anything, it makes my self-esteem worse. It wasn’t until I started introducing digital detoxes into my life that I really realised how addicted to my phone I really was and how damaging that can be. I’m not saying that you should get rid of your phone completely, as these devices can be really great tools. However, if like me, you find yourself slipping into comparison behaviours with others on social media in a negative way, it could be useful to factor in some time out during the day by leaving your phone in a different room. 

Run yourself a soothing bath 

Nothing screams self-care more to me than a hot, steamy bubble bath. I must admit, the bath is probably my most treasured home comfort. But not only that, it is a great place to simply take some time out by yourself and really relax. I personally find that lighting a candle and turning the lights off, does wonders for stimulating the senses and I always come out feeling reams better than when I got in. What’s not to love?

Buy yourself some flowers 

In keeping with the Valentine’s theme, why not treat yourself to some fresh flowers the next time you’re in a supermarket? You don’t need to wait around for someone else to buy them for you, or you may be waiting a while! If, like me, you spend a lot of time in your bedroom, I find that having a bunch of fresh flowers in the corner really helps bring some colour and life to the same four walls and really puts a smile on my face. 

Breathe!

This last one may seem like a given, but I cannot stress this enough. One of the most powerful things that we, as human beings, can do is to take a moment and focus on our breath. Deep breathing really helps to reduce stress, and bring us back to the ground, especially after a difficult day. Even if you simply take one deep inhale and exhale just before you go to sleep, this can really help you to relax. If you’re interested in going a bit further with some longer mindfulness and breathing techniques, there are some brilliant YouTube videos and apps, such as Calm, that are dedicated to guiding you through this process and helping you find your inner peace. 

It can be far too easy to get so wrapped up in loving everyone else that ultimately, you end up forgetting to love yourself! So, this year, let’s dedicate Valentine’s day to loving ourselves and to treating ourselves with all the love and kindness that we truly deserve.

How to cope with Autumn anxiety

Mia Stapleton on 2 November 2022

As the winter months draw nearer, we start to lose some of the British summer sun.  People begin folding up their sunbeds, packing up their barbecues, wrapping up warm, and spending a great deal of time indoors.

Many experience a feeling of anxiety in the Autumn, which can be down to reasons such as: changing of the seasons, the loss of ‘summer,’ and nerves towards the festive season. You may feel anxious, irritable, and tired. Know that you are not alone, as these are all very common things felt by those struggling.

These feelings often go unspoken about, as we only ever hear about seasonal depression in the winter and summer months.

Here at The Gryphon, we have compiled a few ways that you can support yourself, and others, through this time (including some funky and creative ways to spend your time!).

1. Getting more sun

 Just because we are missing the warmth of the summer, does not mean that it is healthy to always stay inside. Even though it sometimes may feel difficult, exposure to sunlight or even fresh air throughout the entire year is one of the best ways to maintain mental and physical wellness. Sunlight boosts your serotonin and vitamin D, a lack of which has been proven to be one of the biggest culprits in seasonal blues. If you feel up to it, try and get outside today, even if it is just a walk to the shop.

2. Take yourself on a solo ‘date’

As the saying goes, you are often your own best company. If you’re wanting to spend some time alone, or your friends aren’t around, don’t feel like you have to stay indoors. There are plenty of things to do solo!

  • Grab a quick coffee at one of Hyde Park’s many cafes.
  • Buy a new book from Waterstones, from fiction to biographies, they have it all.
  • See a new film at the Hyde Park Picturehouse.
    (if you’re short of ideas, the University of Leeds Union Instagram uploads places to visit around campus, daily.)

3. Go pumpkin picking with your pals

What better way to celebrate autumn’s arrival than  by visiting a pumpkin farm! Take a day trip to pick out a pumpkin, and return home for a night of carving, seasonal films, and your favourite snacks. Even better, it is often a relatively cost-effective day’s worth of entertainment, what a bonus!

4. Have a cosy movie night

Staying at home doesn’t have to feel sad. Grab yourself your favourite food, whether that be home cooked, ready made, or a takeaway, and have a cosy night in, Whether it be your favourite comfort films or listening to a podcast. Lift your spirits by taking some much-needed R+R.

5. Take a walk

It may sound simple, but choosing to stretch your legs outdoors can really boost your mood. If you usually take the bus, consider walking instead.

Some of our Leeds’ favourite walking spots relatively close to campus include:

  • Hyde Park
  • The Meanwood Valley Trail
  • Ilkley Moor (one of Yorkshire’s most famous walks, if you’re willing to travel) take the X84!

6. Enjoy a drink

If you’re a fan of a drink every now and then, consider going to a pub, or perhaps a winter beer garden. It’s a great way to socialise, meet new people, take off some tension, and relax.

Most importantly, do not feel afraid to reach out if you are struggling. Sometimes, it is not as simple as getting out of the house, even though the challenge may be beneficial for you. Speak to others about how you feel, and if necessary, contact professionals.

Never struggle alone.

Winter Self-Care

Abby Backhouse on 11 December 2021

The days are short and the weather is below freezing so here are Abby Backhouse’s top tips on taking care of yourself in Winter.