The tradition of New Year Resolutions stretches back thousands of years. It’s a perfect time to reflect on what is, and is not, working in our lives and consider how to improve our lifestyle moving forward. If your teen expresses interest in making a resolution, here are a few good ideas:

Stay Unplugged After Bedtime
Researchers have proven that teens who are not getting enough sleep are more likely to have lower grades, be overweight, become depressed, use drugs, take risks, and suffer from more viruses. Plus, researchers say that our devices emit blue light, which actually prohibits us from getting a good night’s rest. Encourage your teen to set an electronic curfew. When it’s time to go to bed, have your teen plug in their devices for charging in a different area of the house than their bedroom. Late night texting and social media browsing keep teens up way too late, which makes them groggy, moody, and less productive at school the next day. Your teen may really stick with this resolution once they discover how much better they feel after a good night’s sleep!

No Texting and Driving
While 94% of teens acknowledge that texting while driving is dangerous, 35% admit to doing it. One out of every 4 car accidents in the U.S. is caused by texting and driving. Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk. Encourage your teen to make a “no texting behind the wheel” resolution. This resolution will keep your teen, and those around him/her, safe!

Show Appreciation
Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our life. Having good relationships can make everything in life better, and having bad relationships can drain all of your energy. Suggest that your teen make an investment in some of their closest relationships by resolving to let people know how they feel and express gratitude once a month. Perhaps your teen would like to write a thank-you card, perform a kind act, or make a handmade gift for one person a month (teachers, friends, neighbors, etc).

Try Volunteering
Teenagers need the chance to make a difference in their families, at schools and in their communities. These opportunities help them become aware of the needs of others, encourage a sense of personal responsibility to contribute to the larger society, allow them to feel valuable, and open the door to possibility. Young people want to be involved in making the world a better place! There are so many ways to help others, so encourage your teen to find something they feel passionate about. Ideas include organizing a collection (coats, food, pet supplies, etc), caring for animals at a shelter, tutoring elementary students, visiting seniors, sending care packages to troops, helping with an annual fundraiser or sending letters or handmade gifts to sick children.

Middle Earth wishes you and your loved ones a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year!