Guide To A Healthy Teenage Lifestyle

Hair
If you have short hair and don’t use any product, you only really need to wash it once a week. However, if you have long hair and/or use product (gel, hair spray, wax) then you need to wash your hair daily. Rinse your hair with a decent shampoo like Bed head, FCUK or L'Oréal. Make sure you also use a conditioner. Conditioner is very important and keeps your hair healthy and shiny. Use the shampoo and conditioner once a day everyday of the week days. Use different shampoo on the weekend. Still, use shampoo and conditioner but don’t use expensive stuff like Bed head etc. I personally use Head & Shoulders Anti Dandruff shampoo and conditioner because it stops my scalp from producing flakes which is kind of embarrassing. If you have naturally greasy hair, use anti grease shampoo. By changing your shampoo and condition on the weekends your hair is not becoming dependant on a single cosmetic. This means your hair will be healthier and look so much better.
Skin
Spots are very annoying and whether you have bad acne, a few spots or just one or two every few months there are ways to keep them under control. If your parents are over 40 and you ask them about spots, they will most likely tell you that you just have to live with them and put up with it. This may have been the case when they were our age but times have moved on and there are some fantastic treatments out there. I personally am a very spotty person, like my dad. However I hardly ever have spots. This is because of the way I treat my skin. Go to Boots and buy yourself a face scrub. The type I am talking about is a kind of gel with tiny little bits in. Every two to three days, scrub this on your face and wherever you may have spots. (but do not use it around your genitals!!!) Leave the gel on your skin for about 15 seconds and then wash off with water, either in the sink or the shower. Face scrubs feel grubby because they take off the top layer of your skin. This gradually removes the impurities in your skin and prevents spots from appearing. If your skin becomes soar, do not use the face scrub for a couple of days. Your skin will look fresh and refreshed every day.
Exercise
Believe it or not, you don’t have to do much to stay thin and be relatively fit. If you have a dog, take it out for a one hour walk. Walk somewhere different, get lost in the forest and just keep walking. Walking is a very easy and effective way of exercise but it is not sufficient enough. If you are into sport why not try out for the local sports team? If you’re not the sporty type just try your hardest in games lessons at school. Games or PE (physical education) are compulsory lessons in schools up to the age of 16 and optional until your 18. Games is a great excuse to get out of the classroom and have fun with your friends, experiencing new sports like ping pong, hockey and rugby; so take advantage of it. You could subscribe to your local gym. A gym near me charges about £3 for an evening on the weights/running/rowing machines. This is much cheaper than commercial places such as Esporta and Fitness First so try it. If you are not very strong or looking a bit weedy, try press-ups on your bedroom floor every day and try to get better and better.
Food
A balanced diet doesn’t mean you have to miss out on chocolate and luxuries. Make sure you have a piece of fruit a day like a Satsuma, Clementine, Banana or Apple. Snacking between meals is fine as long as you keep it sensible. A penguin bar or bag of muleteers is fine and does help keep your sugar levels up. Drink water. Now I personally hate water on its own so I always mix it with Orange or Blackcurrant squash. This is fine; you are still getting the supplements you need. Eat breakfast. A bowl of Coco Pops with milk is good. Full English breakfasts are bad for you but are acceptable once in a few months! Try to have breakfast every day, especially if you have school. Don’t use vitamin tablets. If you are using supplements such as vitamin tablets (these come shaped as cartoon characters or just look like sweets) then your diet is not right. You shouldn’t need to use these unless you have a food disorder. For example, instead of having protein supplements, try fish for dinner. If you don’t like fish, try smoked samon or cod in breadcrumbs or even Birdseye Fishfingers for kids. There are so many different types of one food everyone can be pleased.
Sex
Wear condoms.
Alcohol
Many people think that WKD’s aren’t strong because they are only an alcho-pop. In fact they are and more than two small bottles will start to damage your liver. Alcohol is fine but you must keep an eye on what you are drinking. Add up the percentages on the bottles and know your limit. You will damage your liver; and you can’t just get a new one like the famous people do. Famous people have millions of pounds to buy them; you will not.
Friends
Believe it or not, your social life has a lot to do with your health. Make sure you have a few friends; the more the better. Always have someone you can talk to, even if it is an online friend. Having someone to talk to about your day is very important. Locking yourself away from the world is only asking for trouble in the future mentally.
Sleep
Teenagers need the same amount of sleep as babies and we all know how much they sleep! Try and get 10 hours sleep a day. I suggest going to bed at around 10pm and waking up at around 7am. If you have trouble sleeping there are many ways to help yourself. Come off of all computers, switch off all tv’s and don’t go near any screens at least half an hour before you decide to go to bed. This is because the bright lights stimulate your mind and make you not tired. Reading is a good relaxing task to make you sleepy. Do not take sleeping pills. Sleeping pills are messing with the way your body naturally works. Don’t play God as some say. Once in bed, lie on your back with lose clothing on like pyjamas or no clothes. Shut your eyes and focus on your breathing. Breathe deeply and count every breath out 10 times. Then count every breath in. Focus on how when you breathe the air in it is warm and when you breath out the air is cold. Think about how the air feels light and is your drug; it is keeping you alive. You will become more tired and eventually fall asleep. If you have an active mind; have a notebook and pen next to your bed; when you think of something, write it down and then forget about it and drift back to your peaceful sleep.