MANILA, Philippines?Is youth really wasted on the young? Our reply: A big ?Hell, no!? Here are 10 rockin? ways to start the new year with a positive bang:
Eat, drink and be merry. Christmas isn?t the only time you can live that mantra to the letter. It?s a well-known fact that your metabolism starts to slow down after adolescence. So while your body?s still able to burn all those calories in a blink, by all means, pig out!
Feeling the stress? Worry less. If last year?s bouts of bad acne and premature wrinkles didn?t scare you, then nothing else would.
Being a perennial worrywart won?t do you any good. Take a breather often, whether it?s as short as a five-minute break or as long as a leisurely weekend getaway.
Sleep all day. Well, maybe not the entire day. Sleep is the best cure for practically anything, whether it?s stress, sickness or even plain boredom. Do your body cells a favor and give them more time to recuperate. Besides, looking fresh and glowing is the best way to start the new year right.
Study hard, party hard. The night is young, and so are we. Sure, you?re always burning the midnight oil cramming for exams and whatnot, but there?s no rule that says you can?t have fun with your nocturnal buddies from time to time. Just learn to balance work and play, and you?re all set to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Go for it. One exasperating thing about this society of ours is that we tend to be overly cautious sigurista who think more than twice before we do something, and that takes the fun out of it. Well, screw that. This year, it?s all about taking risks. Go bungee jumping. Run for class president. Tell your crush you like him or her. What have you got to lose? Pride, schmide. At least you?ll have no regrets.
Smile. If you want to have a happy new year, then look happy. Not only does it light up your face, it also brightens everyone else?s day. Who knows, you might attract something (or someone) good with it this year.
No time? Make some. Admittedly, we never grow tired of using that excuse ?I don?t have time? for just about anything we weren?t able to do. The cold, hard truth is, we?re simply too lazy to make time for the things that we think may not be that important. No matter how swamped we are with schoolwork and stuff, we always have time for other things; it?s just a matter of finding some. That?s what planners are for, people! Use them!
Get a life. All work and no play makes us students very, very dull indeed. There?s more to life than studying and getting good grades. Go out with friends. Spend quality time with your family. Get a hobby, or join sports clubs. Experience is the best teacher. Enjoy every minute of your youth while you still can.
Let go, and let God. If things didn?t turn out the way you wanted them to last year, don?t let yourself drown in thoughts of what might have been. Not everything about your life is in your control, anyway. As trite as it may sound, God really does have a better plan for you; all you have to do is trust Him all the way.
Live in the now. Wallowing in the past and worrying about the future are all we ever do. No wonder the new year is over before we know it. While it?s good to plan ahead and reflect on the things we?ve done or haven?t done right, the key to being happy is to live in the present.
Take it slow and easy, one day at a time. Failed yesterday?s test? Study harder for the next one. Got a mound of papers and projects? Finish the one you?re doing first. Do what you can for now, and in the best way you know how. We might not be able to change the past nor predict the future, but the fact that we hold the present in our hands is what makes life so exciting.
Cheers to an awesome new year ahead!
E-mail the author at avignacio @gmail.com.
