How to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle in High School

While many people are physically active in high school, temptations abound for teens to compromise their healthy lifestyle. Follow these tips to stay on a healthy path while in high school.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Get plenty of rest. With homework and social obligations, teens in high school have a tendency to stay up late and rise early. To function properly, your body and mind need at least eight hours of sleep each night. Go to sleep early enough to get your full requirement, and lower the blinds, turn off the television or radio and unplug the phone to prevent your sleep from being disturbed or fitful.
2. Eat a well balanced diet. Teens are notorious for living on a diet of junk food and soda. Drink plenty of water and eat whole grains and vegetables daily. If you mainly eat nutritious foods, the occasional fast food hamburger or late night pizza won't hurt you.
3. Say no to cigarettes and alcohol. Aside from being illegal, substances such as those found in cigarettes, and excessive amounts of alcohol can affect your physical and mental health. Lifelong habits start during high school years, so make sure the habits you are forming are good ones. Getting hooked on cigarettes and alcohol at a young age can lead to an adulthood spent battling addictive habits that never should have begun in the first place.
4. Exercise regularly. Physical activity helps build a strong body and mind. Teens who exercise throughout high school benefit from a healthy physique and a mind that is more at ease with less stress. Endorphins are a natural high and good for you as well.
5. Confide in friends and family. High school can be fraught with anxiety and emotional pain. A healthy teen will find someone to talk with about their problems rather than dealing with them alone or not dealing with them at all. If you can't trust your parents, lean on friends or teachers when you are upset or stressed out.