“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
-Aristotle
Working with high school students for hours upon end the past 6 years has given me tremendous insight into the lives, successes, hurts, and habits of teenagers. Through casual conversations and class-based discussions, I hear quite often how kids are doing in regards to their health. As an Anatomy teacher and basketball coach, I hear about their physical health. As an adult mentor for Koinonia leaders, a high school youth group leader at Holy Cross, and a Fellowship of Christian Athletes adult leader, I hear about their mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Based on what I have heard throughout that time, I have begun to notice patterns- both good and bad. It is with this informal data that I recommend four tips for healthy teenage living.
- Get Enough Sleep: Without a doubt, the #1 answer I receive when I ask kids how they are doing is, “Tired.” There is not even a close second. Through a little more digging, I have learned that many students are routinely going to bed after midnight, sometimes into the 1:00, 2:00, or 3:00 am range. Students will then wake up a few minutes before needing to be on the road to get to school and are expecting to function well at 8:00 am. Students, do yourself a favor and shoot for 8+ hours of sleep per night. Your body needs it to perform well and grow healthily.
- Eat and Drink Well: Our bodies run on certain nutrients found in food and drink. Without them, we are depriving ourselves of what it needs to work well. With an opening question the other day of “How many of you all ate breakfast this morning?” less than 25% of the class raised their hand. Students, your brain won’t work well if it has not received energy to use for school in the last 12 hours; eat breakfast! While you are at it, drink your milk! With an informal question regarding this in Anatomy the other day, maybe 10% of the students said they do so. Strengthen your bones, students; your body will thank you later! On the positive side, keep drinking your water (see the abundance of Stanley and Owala water bottles throughout the school).
- Don’t Overcommit: Students are routinely saying how busy they are and as a result how stressed they are. This then causes them to lose sleep (see #1 above) and eat irregularly (see #2 above). Multiple activities and sports on top of homework is consuming every waking hour. Students, learn a word that it took me many years to learn, “No.” When presented with yet another thing to add to your schedule/list of activities, try saying, “Thank you, but no. I’d like to focus on my other things.” By focusing on the quality of your activities rather than the quantity, you will excel in your commitments.
- Spend Time with the Lord: When asked what students’ screen time averages per day are, I routinely hear numbers in the 7-10 hour range (with even one or two students saying 16 hours). When asked how much time they spend in The Word, I hear crickets. Students, invest in eternity by spending time with the Creator of the universe who loves you so much that He died a gruesome death just to be with you. Pour your heart out to Him, learn who He is, read His love letter to you. Do not invest in the here and now where what you look at will be forgotten tomorrow. Your present and future self will thank you.
Your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are important. Following these tips will make you successful both now and in the future. Stay healthy, Concordia!