What’s in your habit bank?

Habit

Noun: a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up

Your time at university is limited. Before you know it, varsity will be over and all you’ll be left with is memories and a degree.

What you do in this period can help build a strong foundation for the rest of your life; that’s why it’s so important to cultivate the right habits early in life, to set you up for a lifetime of success. In other words, you need to develop good, healthy regular tendencies or practices.

Here are a few simple ones to adopt in order to thrive:

Hydrate for your mind

Scientists have found that even mild dehydration can lead to decreased cognitive ability and can also have a negative impact on your mood and energy.  So, remember to hydrate – the recommended daily allowance is eight cups of water. Try to carry a bottle of water so that you can track how much water you’re consuming.

Commit to one more hour of sleep

Aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. You'll find yourself feeling healthier, working more productively, and cultivating better relationships. In her book The sleep revolution, media mogul Arianna Huffington attributes her collapse to her go-go lifestyle and her refusal to miss any opportunity. She learned from that illness that sleep is a fundamental human need.

Keep a gratitude journal

End your day by thinking of five things that you were grateful for that day. It could be as simple as electricity that powered your kettle or the hydration you enjoyed from drinking a glass of water. Consider making a habit of keeping track of these (e.g., in a notebook or a Word doc) and challenge yourself not to repeat anything.

Celebrate wins

With each win – big or small – take a moment to celebrate your success. Celebrating can be as simple as one whoohoo after passing a tutorial or even a high five to your buddy after passing a test or assignment.  Regardless of what win you’re celebrating, taking time to honour the hard work will allow you to appreciate the outcome and recognise the effort that went into the work.