I was first introduced to the idea of New Year's resolutions in first grade. The first day back from winter break was spent writing paragraphs about our hopes and dreams. Looking back on my work from first grade, I wrote the pretty niche ideas. "Doing my best" and "trying new things" were on the page, not that there is anything wrong with that. After ten years, resolutions and actions started to fade away, likely because resolutions are so ambiguous. Despite this, there are seven lessons I learned over the course of elementary school and what I have experienced so far from high school that I will definitely carry into this year.

1. Reading the news

   I started this during the pandemic and made it a daily habit. Every morning, even if it is just for a few minutes or skimming the important headlines has made me a more articulate and well-informed individual. Highly recommend.
   

2. Journaling

   I take some time each evening and I recall the events of each day or write about my feelings. Personally, it is a stress-relieving activity. You ought to try it. Furthermore, research finds that there are benefits of journaling from relieving emotional pressures. As a bonus, it's always fun to read back on old journal entries and look back on my adventures.

   
   

3. Running

   The benefits of exercise are well-known, from increased cognitive heart rates to supporting a healthy and active body. Specifically, I have found running to be extermely enjoyable. I like to pick a nice trail and enjoy the nice views of the leaves, but even running around a track. There is something about the adrenaline that really energizes me. Furthermore, running is more than just building stamina or a way to exercise. It's the one form of physical fitness that has forced me to push through difficulty. Let's be honest, the first couple of kilometres for every run will be difficult, but overtime, you build resilience and get used to it. In fact, running is a regular occurence of pushing your limits.

   
   

4. Time Blocking

   Productivity is not about how much time you put in. It's about how you use that time. Studying two hours can be better than studying eight hours without focusing. Like many, I've had times where I've fallen into the loop of procrastinating. I've found a few ways to change this or at least help minimize this problem. The first method is to plan out how you want to spend your time. Simply block out time on your Google Calendar for specific tasks. This gives you an outline on how much time you have in a day and how much time you should spend on each task. Second, track your procrastination. After you are done a task, block on your calendar when you did that task. At the end of the week, or whenever you want, you get a better idea on when you are most productive, all the work you have done, and understanding these patterns better allow us to maximize productivity, but also schedule our down time.

   
   

5. Stop caring about what other people think

   You are your own person. This does not mean be a jerk and treat others poorly, but rather believe in yourself and learn to validate your own opinions. Do not let others bring you down, because ultimately, you are the only one who can make the decisions to lift yourself up or bring yourself down.

   
   

6. Listen to other people

   The greatest gift in this world is humanity. There is not one single story that makes us great, but a medley of stories that make us stronger. You can learn more about other people and their wisdoms, form human connections, and learn from their strengths.

   
   

7. Be happy

   A fulfilling career or in my case, a fulfilling project or class, is not always easy. It's about knowing about things we are passionate about, being brave enough to pursue it, and getting up every day knowing that while there are hardships, you are excited about your journey. Not every step will be easy, but every step will be worth it in the end. Keep the joy.