While the new year has started, it comes without a sense of direction for some of us. Here are some tips to help you find your path through 2019:

1. Get Organized

A great way to start off the new year is by organizing your belongings. Take the time to sort your binders and notebooks. Junk what you no longer need and sort anything that might help for the upcoming midterms. Feeling ambitious? Organize your drawers and closets at home to make getting dressed in the morning easier. Becoming organized is a great way to reduce stress and boost functionality.

2. Eat Healthier

You do not have go on some crazy diet. Food with protein such as beef, eggs, Greek yogurt, chicken, and other foods can make you stronger and give you long-lasting energy. Also, do your best to try to eat breakfast. Even by grabbing an apple or a granola bar before you leave, you can improve your physical and mental health.

3. Find a Hobby

Finding a hobby is an amazing way to have a great 2019. Hobbies can help fill extra time or even help make new friends. Make a list of all of your interests and see what you can do. Maybe join a show if you enjoy singing or dancing. Possibly join a sports team if you like a certain sport. A hobby can help you unwind and give you something to look forward to after a long day.

4. Exercise

All high school students know that sitting at a desk all day can put a lot of strain on the body. Exercising helps counteract these effects. Exercising doesn’t have to mean going to the gym everyday for three hours; taking a walk for 15 minutes or taking the stairs rather than the elevator or escalator helps significantly. Maybe do some basic exercises like sit-ups, jumping jacks, and push-ups while watching that new Netflix series.

5. Volunteer

One of the best rewards in life is helping others. You can volunteer at animal shelters, homeless shelters, or at local businesses. Giving up a few hours of your life to benefit those in need is a great deed, and believe it or not, taking a few minutes to worry about someone else gives you a break from stressing about yourself. There are practical benefits, too: colleges look for volunteer experience, so when you volunteer make sure you write it down and keep it for all those applications.

6. Make New Friends

Having people to talk to and be with makes any day better. Try giving a chance to new people who share similar interests. Maybe say hello to that person sitting next to you in your math class. Sometimes new friendships can last a lifetime and maybe change your life for the better.

7. Try New Things, and Possibly Something That Scares You

Go on that roller coaster, or maybe even say something to a person you want to become friends with, even if the butterflies in your stomach tell you to hide behind your locker. Test yourself and your limits this year. Also, try something new. Maybe try joining the Art Club or lacrosse team to start the year. No one is going to stop you, except you.

8. Make A Resolution List And Try To Stick To It

Resolutions are great, but only if you stick to them. Making a new year list can stress people out especially if they don’t accomplish what they had wanted to. This year, try to start your lists with small tasks and gradually increase them. Maybe start with trying to do your homework and hand it in on time for a month, then aim for getting 90s or above on your next few tests and quizzes. Starting too ambitiously will slow your year down and make you upset if you can’t rise to your expectations, so set a pace. It’s also okay to not get to everything you wished for. There is always next year.

9. Try To Leave Fighting In 2018

Sometimes we disagree with each other, but only you can control what happens after. You can be mean to a person or spread rumors about them because you disagreed or you don’t like them. Or, you can take the high road, talk it out, and be the bigger person. Fighting can cause snags in friendships, but if you don’t try to fix the pull, that snag can tear into a giant hole and be unfixable. Ask yourself if whatever is going on is more important than losing a friend. Sometimes we don’t know what is going on with other people, so try to be there for them rather than be against them.

10. Be Confident

Everyone is unique and special in their own way. What your interests are, who your friends are, and what you believe in are all a part of you. What you think and what you say is important. Don’t hide who you are for other people because if you have to change for other people, they are the wrong friends for you. Listen to the music you like and watch the shows and movies you enjoy. Read the books you like and stand up for the things you stand for. We only have so much time in this world, so don’t spend it trying to fit other people’s standards. You are you, and you are amazing.