Bouncing Back: How to Maintain Healthy Habits

I have noticed that the people around me—admittedly, myself included—are the most enthusiastic, determined, and hardworking during the month of January. This is where New Year’s resolutions take place: eat healthier, go to the gym every day, become an academic weapon, save money, etc., etc.. They’re all important goals, and with the mindset of New Year, New Me, we become focused on maintaining them, determined to get the results we desire… all for about a month.

It always ends with the same excuses. I’m too tired to cook. I don’t have time for the gym anymore. I hate studying. My friends invited me to hang out, and honestly, I don’t know how I spent two hundred dollars on a single outing! It’s not my fault.

Here at LYF, one of our core values is to hold yourself accountable for your own well-being. You managed to maintain these goals during all of January, and understandably, something happened to make you slip out of your healthy habits. It may have been something that was not in your control, I agree with you, but finding resilience is up to you and no one else. So, in honor of LYF’s July theme of Resilience, LYF wants to help people get back on track with their goals now that we are in the second half of the year. Here are ways to get back into your healthy habits and stay there for as long as you can.

Resiliently Eating Better

Let’s be honest: this is probably one of the most difficult habits to maintain. In Las Vegas, a lot of the residential areas are food deserts. There’s no nearby access to restaurants and grocery stores, which increases carbon emissions because if you aren't constantly driving, you will starve. Where there are restaurants, it’s mostly fast food chains. If I walk the perimeter of my neighborhood, there’s a Sonic in front of my house, a 7-Eleven convenience store right next to it, and an El Pollo Loco across the street from it. Accompanying those are Wendy’s, Panda Express, Domino’s Pizza, and Boba King. Like a zombie apocalypse, they’re everywhere! Luckily, there are small steps you can take to limit the amount of fast food you consume.

Minimize your combo order: Admittedly, I love In-N-Out. Give me a double-double, a vanilla milkshake, and a side of animal-style fries, and I’ll become the happiest person on earth. But you don’t always need a combo. Take the small step of ordering just the burger. Keep a water bottle with you and a container full of fruit slices, and BAM! You have yourself a healthier combo. 

Cooking at home: Cooking for yourself at home not only leads to healthier eating, but also expands your horizons. Maybe there was a recipe you found on TikTok that made you skeptical, but after making it for yourself, it became your favorite food! It doesn’t always have to be time-consuming either. Start with meal prepping—the act of preparing your meals ahead of time. This involves cooking entire meals in advance, giving you days’ worth of leftovers. You can also mise en place—chop vegetables and portion out ingredients. This saves you time, money, and effort! 

Shop at farmers’ markets: When it comes to cooking for yourself, it’s important to know what you’re buying and putting in your system. Compared to grocery stores, farmers' markets usually have healthier and more sustainable options, such as locally grown fruits and vegetables. Not only does it support small businesses and reduce carbon footprint, but the amount of pesticides you unknowingly consume will decrease, and your body could feel better than ever! A few recommendations are Trader Joe's, UnCommons Farmers Market, and Downtown 3rd Farmers Market.

Resilience on Gym Time

One of the biggest reasons why I had stopped going to the gym was the most common one: I don’t have time. There are a number of ways to make the gym more enjoyable so that you look forward to going, all while making more time for yourself.

If your workout routine involves using your hands, such as lifting weights or rock climbing, you can still multitask in numerous enjoyable ways. Making a playlist with your favorite artists not only makes working out fun, but time manages to fly by when you’re immersed in a song. Listening to self-care and motivational podcasts gives you the energy not just to continue your workout, but to carry that energy outside your local gym. Being an LYF intern is what motivated me to start listening to podcasts, starting with our very own LYF Podcast. Our channel is a great place to start and offers a ton of positive advice to maintain a good mindset.

While working out with free hands, such as with a treadmill, indoor cycling bike, or a stairmaster, you can easily accomplish tasks or entertain yourself throughout your workout. Having a list of TV shows or movies to watch always made me excited to go to the gym (and really, it’s amazing how many anime seasons you can binge-watch after a week of working out). Kindles are popular for being easy and efficient to carry around, so you can prop one up on your exercise stand and read as you run. Similarly, I’ve finished many homework assignments and studied for multiple tests, all while cycling in place. The time I would have spent at home studying was paired with gym time, making more free space for my late afternoons.

Resilience on Study Habits

After a tough semester, it’s hard to find the motivation to do it all over again, especially after a break. Even if I have a good semester, anxiety always creeps up on me, filling my head with endless what-ifs. What if this is the semester where I don’t pass a class? What if an emergency happens that’s out of my control? What if I just don’t want to do anything, to the point where I won’t get any studying done?

I become so worried about the dread that I don’t think about the positives of school. Even after a failed class, you still learn something new: what you need to do to improve. I made a habit of getting a new planner every semester, giving my month-to-month a visual representation and better managing my time. Going to office hours not only helps you better understand the material, since you get a one-on-one lesson, but it helps you network with professors and creates good professional relationships.

Romanticize school: Studying doesn’t always have to be boring or dreadful; I, for one, have learned to romanticize my college years. Go to your favorite café or bookstore, log into their free wifi, and pretend you’re an extra in a big movie. The number of times this has made me excited to study is astonishing. The same goes for the planner; decorate it with stickers and pretty highlighters. If studying with friends makes you focus more, reach out to them to schedule appointments. If you find yourself distracted, start a study group with peers in your class whom you don’t talk to so often. You’ll get some studying done—not alone, but in silence—and you may even make new friends as well!

Resilience on Saving Money

I enjoy the occasional shopping spree, but it gets to a point where you need to recognize your limits and learn to stop. I admit I go to too many concerts during the year, and my debit card loves buying new books and (expensive) K-Pop merch. No matter how tempting your Amazon cart may be, it’s important to remember your goals, life essentials, and little ways to keep your wallet well-fed and satisfied.

Think before buying: That letterman jacket is absolutely beautiful, but do you really see yourself wearing it after day one? Do you have a warmer coat in your closet that you’d most likely still use all next winter? That purse is very lovely and trendy. You’ve seen so many celebrities buying it, but how convenient is it really? Does it fit all the things you often carry with you when you leave the house? Or maybe it’s too bulky. You might get tired carrying it around when all it holds is your phone, wallet, and chapstick.

Leave your card at home: I used to do this when I worked at a boba shop that was surrounded by restaurants and dollar stores—easy, close shopping places to go to during my break time. Of course, I carried emergency cash with me (you never know), but leaving my card would prevent me from wandering into places I didn’t need to be in.

Sell things you don’t need anymore: If you ever find yourself needing extra cash, look around your household. Perhaps you don’t need this blanket anymore, or this dress, or that pair of shoes that were overpriced when you first bought them. Look around your local area for thrift stores that will buy used items in good condition. Las Vegas, for instance, has resources such as Buffalo Exchange, EZPAWN, and Alt Rebel. OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace are efficient options as well, but remember to prioritize online safety. Always meet in public places during the daytime!

Conclusion

Once we stop our good habits, it’s difficult to start all over again. It takes a strong mind and willpower, but little steps go a long way to a better lifestyle. It’s up to you to find the resilience to continue your good habits throughout the year, but LYF is always here for support when needed!

About the Author

Litzy Rivas is an English major concentrating in Creative Writing at UNLV, who hopes to be a novelist and publishing editor once she graduates. As a Blog, Newsletter, and Marketing Intern for LYF, she hopes to improve her writing and editing skills with the help of the supportive LYF team and readers. Her interests include the Bridgerton and Heartstopper books and TV shows, K-Pop, anime, and her dream is to travel the world through the opportunities she hopes to gain through the creative writing field.