The good habits you should make time for in your 20s

Every semester (and particularly every exam period), all the good habits we try to invest in tend to go by the wayside. That diet, exercise routine and saving plan that we so optimistically started at the beginning of the semester have long been forgotten about when you have a million other things to worry about in your hectic schedule. As we approach mid-year break, there’s no excuse for being too busy – start making these good habits a part of your daily routine and eventually it won't be so hard for them to be part of your life.

The money habits

When you only have enough time to work a couple of part-time or casual shifts, it can make student life a broke few years. It might not seem like you earn enough to save any money, but getting into good saving habits now will set you up for when you’re earning them real dollar dollar billz.

The first step to good saving habits is having a goal to work towards that will motivate you. It could be saving to travel, to move out or buying a car. If you keep something you really want to achieve in mind, it will help you say no to that extra soy latte every day or motivate you to bring your lunch more.

Download an app like Pocketbook or Wally and keep a track of your savings, breaking up every dollar you spend based on whether it’s a ‘want’ or a ‘need’. If you’re finding it hard to save, this will help you pinpoint where all your money is going and will hopefully help you figure out if there any ‘want’ spendings you should cut back on.

The health habits

There’s always the good intentions to start good health habits, and yet it's rarely seen through to the end. Maybe it was your New Year’s resolution or a pledge to “Start on Monday!” that never actually happened. But being healthy shouldn't have to mean keeping a strict diet or a rigorous daily exercise routine – in fact, if you go too hard too fast, you’re probably more likely to set yourself up for failure.

Instead of restricting yourself with no gluten/sugar/anything diets, go for balanced meals instead. While some foods from the organic health food sections can be super exxy, veg and fruit is generally quite cheap. Try a few easy vego meals in your repertoire and eating healthy won’t seem hard at all. Pair that with exercise and you’ll be the embodiment of #healthspo in no time at all.

If you find it hard to fit team sports or the gym into your schedule, even things like walking or riding a bike instead of driving can give you that movement and vitamin D your body is craving after you've been locked inside studying for so long.

The self-love habits

While you’re taking care of your physical health, remember that your mental health is equally as important to look after. Study can make your brain your worst enemy, falling victim to negative self-talk that convinces us we're going to fail. The risk of this is that it'll become engrained into your brain as the automatic reaction, carrying on to your career and other aspects of your personal life.

Loving yourself more can be a challenge at first, but it gets easier the more you do it. Try meditating, spending some time by yourself, compliment yourself more and don’t disagree if others compliment you. Part of this is getting rid of any toxic people in your life who are putting you down and start embracing all the positive amazing friends and family.