dear nancy advice
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Build a healthy lifestyle without sports
Dear Nancy,
I’m trying to build a healthier lifestyle but I’m not interested in sports. What steps should I take to achieve that?
-Concerned Student
I’m trying to build a healthier lifestyle but I’m not interested in sports. What steps should I take to achieve that?
-Concerned Student
Dear Concerned Student,
Happy New Years! If it’s a healthier life you want, have no fear. Playing sports doesn’t have to be a factor of being healthy; a healthy life can be achieved in other ways besides the competitive aspect of playing a sport. Also, health is more than just being active, I’ll help with that too. Let’s usher in the new year with a positive and healthy lifestyle!
Movement
Hear me out. I know you don’t like sports, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go out and do other things! Movement is the biggest aspect that you need to accept when it comes to building that healthier lifestyle. Despite the cold winter that is currently upon us, you can do alternative things that accommodate the winter cold. Things you could do active are ice skate, shovel the snow, go sledding, and ski.
Other than snow, there are a lot of other things you can tweak to see improvements. When in a building, try taking the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Also try getting a pedometer. This piece of equipment measures how many steps you take. With that, you should aim to reach a certain amount of steps each day. Walking is the easiest way to work your body without you actually realizing it’s working itself. Some examples on how to achieve your walking goal is to: walk through the park, walk to the store for a healthy snack, walk your dog if you have one, gather some friends and walk the mall a few times, or get your friends to walk with you to see who walks the most. Make it a friendly competition with a small prize for the winner. Competition should be good for pushing you to win and be healthy!
Some days the cold becomes too unbearable. Those are the days that you should try maybe going to the gym. A membership can be quite pricy, but don’t worry; I’ll provide you with some prices! Planet Fitness offers two plans - one is $10 per month and the other is $20. The $20 plan offers half-off on drinks, haircuts, unlimited massage chairs, use of tanning beds, and discounts on reebok, master cuts, and pfstore.com, Planet Fitness’ merchandise website. Another suggestion is Anytime Fitness. This place is open 24 hours, and offers things like personal training, classes, and tanning. The price varies from gym to gym, so you’d have to call in to see what they offer. There are other gyms, but I think that these are the best bang for your buck, so I’d start by looking at these. If they don’t work out for you there are others;however, remember that a gym isn’t necessary, but it helps a lot.
Eating
Eating is equally as important as moving; however, eating right is the hard part. With the world full of fast food and processed meat, it’s extremely hard to keep up with what exactly you put into your body. I suggest carrying a journal to mark down how many calories you intake per meal, and along with calories you can count the other essentials your body needs. This includes fats, proteins, vitamins (A, B, C etc.), sodium, fiber, and carbohydrates. Putting food into your body should be looked as similarly to the way you put gas into your car. You’re going to want to put the best gas into your car whilst maintaining the right balance of full and not too full. One problem people have, is eating when they’re already full. It’s like putting gas in when you have a full tank. Once you overflow the body, that can lead to extra fat!
One way to make sure you’re getting the right amount is writing down everything you intake.
Your plate should be fruits and veggies. Though the appeal to vegetables isn’t there usually, the benefit of them can be very rewarding. For example, just one cup of chopped carrots can be 53 calories, but over 400% of your daily need of vitamin A. Another example is broccoli; one cup of chopped broccoli has only 31 calories but 135% of your daily vitamin need. The reward is really high, so just sneak some veggies in with every meal. You don’t have to eat just veggies though, try sneaking them in within your three daily meals - it will definitely be rewarding.
It’s okay if you want to sneak some other treats in there too! Having a few fatty foods is really reasonable. Fats give you energy, including carbs that you need throughout the day to give you energy. However try to keep the calories under 200. The worst thing you can do is binge on food that isn’t good for you. Things like cookies, brownies, and ice cream are fine to eat once in awhile, but eating too much leads to bad results in health.
Other Small tips
Getting enough sleep is also an important part of being healthy. Being at an IB school can get in the way with that, but sleep is very key in trying to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Seven to nine hours a night is considered healthy, so try to achieve at least seven hours. A lack of sleep can throw off your body’s internal clock, and it can make you more fatigued and less energetic to achieve what you want to do that day.
Stretching is also a way to become healthier. It isn’t too much exertion on your body and, best of all, you can stretch your muscles everywhere! The best is to do it right before you wake up, and right before and after you do vigorous exercise. This helps your muscles move a lot easier, plus it makes it easier to exercise and it reduces the risk of pulling a muscle. Being flexible is a good trait to have for avoiding any injuries when you move, and it’ll give you a better posture!
Try resolving your stressful situations. I know school can be quite stressful, especially when you have to balance it with clubs and homework, but try to slow down and take a few breaths when you start feeling stressed in order to relax a bit. Building too much stress can make it difficult for you to control your emotions. It can also lead to other problems like binge eating, and it can make you look way older by premature aging. If you grind your teeth when nervous or stressed, that can ruin them. Try reducing your stress by doing things that relax you, like maybe taking a walk through the park. Find a hobby that you like to do and reduce stress by doing the hobby. Don’t run away from your problems, but find a way to handle them in healthy way.
It can be hard to balance everything at once; however, balance is the key when it comes to the healthy lifestyle you wish to achieve. You don’t have to do all of the things I mentioned above, nonetheless if you don’t do one, you should go the extra mile on the others. For example, if one day you don’t feel like working out or moving, make sure you eat a little better that day and make sure you sleep good that night. Keep this up and you should be living healthy in no time!
-Nancy
Second semester help
Dear Nancy,
Second semester is finally here and I’m really hoping to step up my academic game a bit. I didn’t do so hot last semester. My GPA wasn’t as high as it could have been - my parents weren’t happy with it, and let’s be honest, I wasn’t either. I know I can do so much better but I’m really in need of some school survival tips.
Thanks much,
Second Semester Hopeful
Second semester is finally here and I’m really hoping to step up my academic game a bit. I didn’t do so hot last semester. My GPA wasn’t as high as it could have been - my parents weren’t happy with it, and let’s be honest, I wasn’t either. I know I can do so much better but I’m really in need of some school survival tips.
Thanks much,
Second Semester Hopeful
Dear Second Semester Hopeful,
I’m sure just about everyone in the history of ever has felt the same way “I know I could have done better” feeling you’re dealing with right now. Not to worry though, because like you said: second semester is finally here! Redemption is possible! Your unsatisfactory GPA could have been the result of a number of things - maybe your study habits weren’t quite up to snuff, perhaps you had a bit of a problem with procrastination. Whatever the case, I assure you you’re more than capable of making the necessary changes to get to where you want to be academically.
Making use of your resources
- Online programs and databases: With any internet-accessible device, you have a sea of information at your fingertips. You can find information on just about anything thanks to the functionality of the world-wide web. Also, these days it’s pretty common for teachers to create their own website for their classes - how convenient! Not to mention websites like Quizlet and Khan Academy, useful and FREE studying tools you can utilize from anywhere for additional practice on content you’re covering in school.
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- Nearby facilities: The library is an institution that exists primarily for the educational needs of students. Not only can you check out books on your subject topics, but you can also take advantage of the computer and printer services they have to offer.
- Meetings with teachers: Remember that your teachers are there to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask for a pass to come in during one of their free periods throughout the day. If you have a full schedule and no time to spare between classes, ask about coming after school. You can find a number of teachers in the PBL lab throughout the week that have set aside extra time solely for the purpose of helping and/or tutoring their students. There’s no better resource than the person teaching the content.
- Get together with other students: These are the people that are taking/have taken the same courses as you. Your weakness may be their strong suits and vice versa so consider working together - whether you meet up at a local coffee shop or collaborate via Google Drive! Like the saying goes, two heads are better than one.
- Use your smartphone: If permitted, take recordings of lectures and pictures of in-class notes. This way you are able to review any material that was a little fuzzy the first time around, if you’re stuck on a problem of that night’s homework, or in preparation for a final exam.
Studying at home
- Create a designated studying area: Pick a zone, any zone. It could be your room, the kitchen, and weather permitting, even outside. Make sure the area is free of clutter and other unwanted distractions. Grab a healthy snack, get into a comfortable position, and crack open those books!
- Eliminate distractions: Unless you need background noise to get things done, turn off the TV. Let your friends know you’ve got work to do and put your phone on silent. Make your best studying playlist, or utilize the classical station on Pandora to help get you in the zone.
Advice aside, your success in second semester will be directly proportional to the quality and quantity of work you put in. It is very important that you believe in your own ability to achieve! Remember these tips as you go forth and conquer these last two terms before summer. Good luck! Bon chance! ¡Buena suerte!
Sincerely,
Nancy
blue during red holiday
Dear Nancy,
I hate this time of year mostly because it shoves the fact that I am single in my face. What can I do to avoid sadness during this month?
Sincerely,
No Hearts and Flowers This Year
I hate this time of year mostly because it shoves the fact that I am single in my face. What can I do to avoid sadness during this month?
Sincerely,
No Hearts and Flowers This Year
Dear No Hearts and Flowers,
You have a case of the blues! The first thing that you need to keep in mind that being single is okay. Most high school relationships do not last, so you are not missing out on much. College is a whole new playing field where both genders are, hopefully, more mature and more available. Below are some helpful tips to improve your February experience!
Avoiding Being Blue Days Before the Holiday:
Aside from avoiding the Valentine's aisles in the stores, you can immerse yourself in everything else going on around you. You can focus on your studies, your family, your friends, or any other extracurriculars that you are participating in. If you already are, why not try picking up a new hobby? No, I’m not talking about stamp collecting, unless that genuinely interests you, but hobbies can include crocheting, coloring in coloring books, painting, watching sports, learning to skateboard, etc. If you are already focused on what is going on around you and have hobbies that you are already investing your time in and you still do not think it is enough to keep the sadness out of your heart, you can try celebrating a different holiday.
You have a case of the blues! The first thing that you need to keep in mind that being single is okay. Most high school relationships do not last, so you are not missing out on much. College is a whole new playing field where both genders are, hopefully, more mature and more available. Below are some helpful tips to improve your February experience!
Avoiding Being Blue Days Before the Holiday:
Aside from avoiding the Valentine's aisles in the stores, you can immerse yourself in everything else going on around you. You can focus on your studies, your family, your friends, or any other extracurriculars that you are participating in. If you already are, why not try picking up a new hobby? No, I’m not talking about stamp collecting, unless that genuinely interests you, but hobbies can include crocheting, coloring in coloring books, painting, watching sports, learning to skateboard, etc. If you are already focused on what is going on around you and have hobbies that you are already investing your time in and you still do not think it is enough to keep the sadness out of your heart, you can try celebrating a different holiday.
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Other holidays/festivities that are in February include:
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Avoiding Hearts and Flowers on Valentine's Day:
In my opinion, there are three ways you can spend this holiday if you don’t have a significant other.
- Make it a ME Day
2. Go on a Date!
There is no reason you shouldn’t go on a date! Instead of this date being a romantic one, it’s more of a friendship date. You can go with your friends out to eat, to see a movie, or to compete at an arcade. If none of your friends are available, then this is the perfect opportunity to show your pets how much you appreciate them. Fix up a can of Fancy Feast and heat up your favorite frozen dinner and dine by candle light with your best friend. If the only pet you have is a turtle or a fish, it is perfectly acceptable to bring your dinner and candle to them!
3. Show the Important People in your Life that you Love them
This holiday shouldn’t just be celebrated with a boyfriend, or girlfriend, but it should be celebrated with those you love. Pick up some cheesy Valentine’s Day cards, or favorite chocolate bars for your friends and family. This will show them that you love them and are thankful for them. Take a family trip out to dinner, watch a love story, or ask your parents how they first met. That will keep them talking for a good hour. You never need to celebrate this holiday alone because, you have significant others all around you!
Review:
Before Valentines Day you can keep yourself busy by focusing your time on school, extracurriculars, or picking up a hobby. There are also a variety of alternative holidays that you can celebrate. To make the actual day a little more tolerable, you can have a day celebrating you, you can go on a date with those closest to you, or you can show your family and friends that you love them. Valentine's Day is just one day of your life, even though stores might make it feel that it lasts an eternity by selling Valentine’s Day products at the beginning of January. I believe that with these tips you can make it through the holiday!
-Nancy
approaching crushes
Dear Nancy,
Valentine's Day is coming up and I don't know how to approach my crush. What should I do?
Valentine's Day is coming up and I don't know how to approach my crush. What should I do?
Love is a strange thing especially when you're a teenager and your hormones are running amok. Knowing that you like someone or have feelings for them is even more confusing when trying to decipher feelings that are new to you. It's not easy but there are many different ways to approach the situation.
Gather Some Confidence
Having the right amount of confidence is very important when approaching your crush. Being sure of yourself can sometimes help you get the attention from your person of interest. Having the right amount of confidence can show a lot about yourself to others. When you walk and talk with confidence it shows how you hold yourself and how you treat others. This trait is very important.
Get Some Advice
If you don't think that confidence is the only thing that you are lacking, get some advice from someone that you trust and see if they can help you with your situation. Plenty of people go through this same problem everyday, and sometimes it just needs to be seen from someone else's perspective. Ask this person that you trust what you are lacking or even go over/practice what you would say when approaching your person of interest.
Take a different route
It's okay to not want to approach someone head on, especially if it's someone you have a crush on. There are a few different ways to ask someone without facing them in person. One is asking someone to go with you and to be there when you decide to approach your crush. This helps especially for moral support if you are feeling nervous. Another way is sending them a note telling them your feelings and a place to respond if they feel the same. This helps avoid face to face rejection, but also increases suspense. One other way to ask but avoid face to face rejection would to leave them a Valentine at their locker telling them your feelings in the Valentine. This way will show your affection and that you care for them.
These things may help prepare someone to approach their crush or give them examples on how to do it, but in the end, it's trusting your instincts and being yourself that is what will get you anywhere. You have to trust yourself, but a little practice won't hurt. Also remember that getting hurt in the process is just apart of life and helps you grow. If you get rejected just know that it's not the end of the world and that this is just high school. There will be plenty of other people that will come along and catch your interest but the important thing to remember is to never give up.
-Nancy