When we talk about healthy habits for teens, we’re not just talking about eating right or exercising. There are many, many other habits that go beyond those couple of basics, even thought eating healthy and exercising is also very important for teenagers. Let’s go over the basic, and some less-common habits for teenagers to practice. If you start while you’re younger in life, it’ll be easy to create lifelong habits that will keep you healthier, enrich your life, and make you happier. Here’s our list of eight, but there are so many other healthy habits for teens out there, too.
8. Staying Active
You don’t have to be captain of the volleyball team or a track star, but taking some time each day to walk, or go for a jog, or just to stand up every 30 minutes when you’re sitting around playing games is important.
As you get older, this becomes more and more important. Starting these healthy habits when you’re younger sets you up for a lifetime of healthy habits and staying active.
Yoga is a great way to stay active, and it can also incorporate meditation which we’ll be looking at in our next point. Do you have a dog? Taking your dog for a walk is another fun physical activity. From spots, to hikes, to walking around the block… get in the habit of staying active everyday, breaking a sweat as much as you can, and take advantage of this while you’re younger because it will help you for the rest of your life.
7. Meditation for Teens
Have you ever meditated before? It doesn’t have to be complex or intimidating. There are countless guided meditations out there, just find one and start doing it. Just search YouTube for “beginner meditation” and find one that appeals to you, and you’ll be all set. Meditating can be done in as little as 5-10 minutes a day, and it can help clear your mind, it can help with teenage anxiety, it can help you sleep better, and the list goes on.
We’re not sure if there are any concrete scientific studies that backup all of the health claims of Yoga, but you’ll just have to try it for yourself and see if you feel calmer after a week or two of practice.
You can find podcasts for teens that help with meditation and a number of other healthy habits, too.
6. Be a Book Worm
When you’re in grade school and you’re forced to read, it can feel like a chore. It’s unfortunate that a lot of kids are introduced to literature this way, but it can discourage some people from reading later in life. If you can relate to this at all, forget about it! Reprogram your mind to accept reading as a fun, interesting, and enjoyable hobby. There are books out there on EVERY topic, and once you get into a good book, it’s hard to put it down.
In a world of movies, TV, apps, screens, short attention spans and instant gratification, a book is the perfect way to slow things down a bit and to reclaim some of your attention span. You’ll need to read a lot in your high school years, and it won’t always be for fun, but don’t let that kill your love of reading for fun.
5. Healthy Eating Habits for Teens
A healthy teenage diet plan doesn’t need to be overly complicated. One of the big things, in your teenage years, is just not getting into the habit of eating a ton of junk food because when you’re a teen, you won’t put on extra weight as easily, but as you get older, you can eat the same amount and you’ll gain a lot of weight, quickly. It’ll catch up to you before you know it. Now, gaining weight isn’t the end of the world, but being able to keep some weight off is medically better for you in the long run.
4. Be True to Yourself
It’s important to take some time to think about what your philosophies are for life. What matters to you, how do you form your beliefs, do your opinions hold up to scrutiny? Furthermore, don’t be stubborn! Your opinions will change as you get older, have new experiences, and learn new things, and are exposed to new data and ideas.
Don’t get locked-in to your teenage perception of the world, be open minded but not too open-minded. You can come up with a framework for processing information that you take in, without having such an open mind that you never stay true to your convictions.
3. Get Checkups at the Doctor and Dentist
As you age, you’ll need to get more and more regular checkups at the doctor for a variety of different health concerns that become more common later in life, but even in your youth, it’s good to have a family doctor and to visit them every year or so for a checkup/physical. If you don’t have health insurance, this can get a little pricey, but you’ll realize in time that your health is really all you’ve got.
Taking care of your teeth is also incredibly important from a younger age. Brushing twice a day and flossing is one of the best habits you can develop when you’re a teen, and it will save you a literal fortune later on in life when you won’t have to get nearly as much expensive work done on your teeth.
2. Keeping in Touch With Friends
Technology makes it so easy to keep in touch with your friends. You probably see most of your friends at school, or online, but making that extra effort to pick up the phone sometimes will help you form the types of friendships that will last long after you’re done school or you’ve moved on to the next game.
1. Being Grateful
Some of the happiest people in life, statistically, are the people who have the least. When I say have the least, I’m not talking about someone who is still using an iPhone 7 or doesn’t have the latest Jordan’s, I’m talking about people who have to wake up every morning to toil away for pennies or dollars a day, without homes, without any comforts or luxuries that we take for granted. People who have never even seen a computer. Their lives are TOUGH, and most of us simply wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Yet sometimes, all of us catch ourselves complaining about the silliest things. If we could all spend a day or a year in someone else’s shoes, we would be so much more grateful for what we do have. Even when times are tough, it could always be worse, so gratitude helps you appreciate what you have.
This doesn’t mean you should never feel down, or that you’re taking everything for granted every moment you’re having a bad day, but in general it’s very healthy to practice gratitude.
More Healthy Habits for Teens?
Leave a comment if there are any other healthy habits that you think we should add to this list. Even if we don’t end up adding it, your comment will be here to help other teens who are looking for advice on how to follow healthy habits in their life. Healthy habits for teenagers can range from mental health, dental health, physical health, and just stuff that’s fun to do and good for your mood and mind. Try to practice as many of these healthy habits for teens as you can, as often as you can, and you’ll find yourself becoming a more well-rounded and healthier adult.
