Tiny Healthy Habits, Huge Payoff: What Smart Teens Do Early

Why Teens Should Start Now

The foundations of overall wellness, in terms of money and health, are based on consistent habits. Teens who start early to build small habits benefit in the long term. Good sleep, diet, and exercise promote healthy self-control, and as this study  shows, these positive outcomes help individuals make favorable investment decisions, allowing them to grow their wealth.

Small Health Habits That Make a Big Difference Exercise: Start small and build up; walk around school/college with your friends at lunch for 10 minutes, pick one day a week to walk back home, or get off at an earlier bus stop. Regular exercise promotes better sleep, as cited in the above UT Austin study. Sleep: Small increases in sleep improve mood, focus, and academic performance, and reduce the risk of mental health issues, as shown in this study. Try increasing your sleep time by 15 to 30 minutes. Hydration: Up to 60% of the human body is made up of water. In a study of adults, increasing water intake improved cognition. Young adults can start now to maintain and sharpen their cognition as they advance into their 30s and beyond.

Small Money Habits That Add Up

Save a little regularly: A study of around 20,000 people in Australia found that “stable financial behaviors, such as regular saving habits and timely credit card payments, improve mental health.” Avoid impulse purchases; this is where budgeting comes in to help us stay within our available financial resources. Understanding budgeting, interest, and savings improves financial outcomes over time. Build up your financial literacy so you can make informed choices.

Conclusion: Health and Money Habits Work Together

Health improves money decisions. Better sleep, exercise, and hydration help support better financial understanding and decision-making. Likewise, having a savings account and emergency funds lowers stress, leading to better sleep, mood, and overall outlook.