We’re two and a half weeks into 2025, and some of us are looking for change in 2025, whether it’s something huge or minimal. But maybe you don’t know where to start. Well, here are 10 small things you can do to start the New Year fresh.
1. Do something out of your comfort zone
It’s often hard to do something new, but doing something out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be anything major. It can be something as simple as saying hi to someone in the hallway, talking to someone new, or volunteering for something in class.
2. Drink more water
A basic human need is water, which we often forget to drink or tend to drink something else. A simple thing you can do is just drink more water and start drinking an adequate amount of water, which is aproximately 64 ounces for the average teenager, depending on how much physical activity you engage in.
3. Do a phone cleanse
Get rid of photos that you don’t need, delete apps that you no longer use, and go through your notes, events in your calendar, emails, playlists, and contacts you no longer need.
4. Try a new hobby
If you have nothing better to do, start a new hobby. Some basic hobbies you can take up are crocheting, cooking, painting, playing an instrument or learning a new language. If none of these things appeal to you, there are dozens of ideas on the internet and YouTube videos where you can easily learn something new.
5. Keep a positive attitude and spread positivity to others
This might be the simplest task on the list. Most of us are rather pessimistic about being stuck at school for 8 hours all day, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of it. Put a smile on your face, try and think of some sort of good that comes out of your day, and project that positivity into others who may not be having such a lucky day.
6. Think of one thing you’re grateful for daily
I know that everyone’s day–or life–isn’t that peachy but there’s always a silver lining and something to be grateful for. Simple things you can be thankful for are your lunch, something new you’re learning or a helpful teacher.
7. Listen to a new music artist
Lots of us spend our days listening to music, whether it’s during lunch or an independent assignment. And listening to a new music artist may just be the little spice you need for your New Year. Recently, I stopped listening to my usual pop artists and shifted to more melancholy artists, which has added an entirely new vibe to my day.
8. Do something you’ve been putting off for a while
There are lots of things we all put off, whether it’s thanking that one relative for a gift or putting away that laundry that’s been sitting on your bed for weeks. Whatever it may be, I encourage you to take on that task that you’ve been putting off, whether it’s been a week or a month. You will feel so much more accomplished and refreshed after completing that thing you’ve been putting off for so long.
9. Call or text a family member or someone you haven’t talked to in a while
We all have that one person we just forget exists and we don’t talk too much: a grandparent, an aunt or uncle or a friend that we’ve slowly forgotten about as life goes on. Take some time out of your day to reach out to that person, check on them, make sure they’re doing ok. It’ll be sure to make that person’s day.
10. Take time off of social media
Something we all struggle with is constantly being glued to our screens. I encourage you to take a little time every day; when you first wake up and start your day and right before you go to bed, to take time off technology. You’ll feel a lot more refreshed, focus more on the things around you, and lose a lot of stress. Taking time off in the morning can give you a fresh and positive start to your day. And taking time off before you go to bed will help you wind down and sleep better, letting your body reset for the next day.
