Written by
Erin Lauters, SMT Writer
Dexter, Missouri - Everyone knows what opportunities New Year's Day brings. The chance to start fresh, and change your way of living brings excitement. Since they are limited because of the size of Dexter, the New Year's Resolutions that these teens conjure up are pretty straight forward.
1. Get better grades. I know cliché, right? The teens of Dexter High School are for the most part always trying to improve themselves academically. In order to stick to this resolution, the teens will need to study more and ask more questions in class.
2. Make healthier food choices. Not only does this mean getting in your fruits and veggies, but balance good and bad, as well as portion control. This could be an easy task if you make snack choices like swapping out potato chips for yogurt, an apple, or even carrots and ranch.
3. Lose weight. Even though some people who make this resolution don't necessarily need to lose weight, their Christmas food splurging allows them to feel overweight. There are many options to start trimming off the pounds. There are two gyms in Dexter, as well the Bearcat Event Center open to the public for free walking/running.
4. Manage stress and finances. These items go hand in hand, especially if you have payments due. For all your smartphoners out there, there are about a dozen free financing/budgeting apps out there. The way for sure to relieve stress is to begin exercising. (This is a plus for those of you wanting to lose weight.) If you aren't into that, start writing in a journal.
5. Reduce, reuse, recycle. You may think this is hippie-like, but you could actually make a little money by recycling. If you are interested in helping the environment, this is a great option for you. Bootheel Recycling takes almost anything from aluminum to plastic.
6. Make time for yourself. This can be hard in a teenager'a schedule, but it's much needed especially after the stressful holiday season. If you are a female, you could listen to different music, read magazines, dive into a book, or get a pedicure. If you are a male, you could play video games, experience a new movie, or play a new sport.
7. Improve yourself. We all have faults, so pick one and make it your goal to make that quality what you want it to be. For example, if you are slightly antisocial, and want to change that, take it step by step and slowly come out of your box by connecting with someone new at school or a social event. Face-to-face conversation is truly a lost art.
8. Learn something new about yourself by volunteering. While you have friends and are getting into a cycle, you could spice things up by doing some extracurricular activities. By joining groups like StuCo and Rotary Interact, you are doing work, making friends, and becoming something bigger than yourself.
9. Get more organized. By organizing your life and making plans, you are saving your self time and removing some stress. Keep an organizer/calendar and write everything down. Be sure to keep your organizer with you. Get an organizing folder for homework and other assignments.
9. Improve relationships. In order to do this, you need to be honest with the person, or people. Be sure to stay calm when solving or addressing any problems. Be true to yourself and it should be easier to express yourself to others.
10. Be more courteous and less selfish. We all do it, so try to improve on it. Try not to bully others or say hurtful things. Be cautious of what you say and how you say it, and remember that not everything is about you. Other people are involved in life as well. Try to realize what your habits are, and if they are negative, try and change them.
New Year's Resolutions can be hard to follow. Make someone hold you accountable in order to have a higher success rate. Happy New Year!
