Autumn T.

Snacking -By Autumn T.

She had a long day working, and didn't eat breakfast. Instead of grabbing a snack before dinner, she waits and eats a large plate of spaghetti for dinner. After eating, she is still not satisfied! She is craving a snack. Recent studies have shown that skipping a snack between meals actually causes you to gain weight. After a long day of work, eating relieves stress, helps you sleep better, and even helps you to lose weight! The point is, snacking isn't bad. So go ahead and grab some popcorn, you deserve it!

“Feeling stressed is a part of life” (Author unknown). This statement is correct, but nobody really enjoys stress. Recent studies have shown that eating between meals actually relieves stress. Consistency and patience are the two most important aspects of any diet and fitness program you join. Snacking takes away stress faster than going on a diet. Some foods such as dark chocolate, nuts, smoothies, and yogurt have lots of potassium, protein, and calcium that your body needs to be calm. In other words, these foods would be considered comfort foods. Using some of these foods as snacks could help people to have a less stressful day.

“Having a satisfied stomach will help you fall and stay asleep” (Kate). Many people struggle with sleeping, and that is a normal thing. The simplest thing to do is to have a bedtime snack. About 15-30 minutes before bed, people should try eating a bowl of berries or apple slices. These snacks are high in vitamin C and take away stress. Who knew eating could help you sleep?

“Eating between meals can promote weight loss” (Bornstein). Snacking cannot be simplified to the calories in and the calories burned. If this were true, You could be eating all the pizza and soda you wanted, as long as you went to the gym. When you eat the right amounts of the right foods, your blood sugar stabilizes. Skipping the late night snack can cause weight gain, and your blood sugar to crash. So yes, skipping the snack causes weight gain.

You've probably heard of the saying “Eating before bed will make you fat” or “Eating adds more calories” (Kate). Don't believe them! These are myths! Snacking is really about portion sizes. Yes, snacking can help you lose weight, but i'm not saying you should eat a full bag of chips in one sitting! People don't get very hungry between meals when they eat small frequent snacks.  In other words, snacking isn't as bad as people think. As long as you know your portion sizes, say goodbye to going on diets!

If people don't start eating between meals, they lose out on opportunities and some health benefits. Additionally, they might feel stressed or have a hard time falling asleep. This causes trouble for students in the future. Some may think otherwise, but again, snacking between meals is good, and leads to a successful life.

Kennedy.P

Sleeping Early by Kennedy.P

Bob loves to stay up late watching Netflix on school nights, he even stays up on some nights all the way until 11:30 p.m. The next morning, he wakes up late, and he is barely able to get out of bed. On the drive to school he ends up falling asleep. When it’s time to go to class, he is super tired. During class time, he can barely keep his eyes open. Bob is one of those kids who stays up late when he’s supposed to be sleeping already. When people go to sleep early, they get better grades, spend more time with friends, and have less stress. In fact, when people start going to bed earlier they start seeing benefits.

According to Sifferlin, “Teens who stay up late at night cramming, are more likely to have academic problems the following day - doing poorly on the test they studied for” (Sifferlin). If you go to sleep late, you won’t be able to focus on a summative assessment, then there goes your grade. For example, if you stay up late and there is MAP testing the next morning, you will get a horrible score because your mind will be set on other things, like sleep, rather than the test. Overall, a benefit of sleeping early is good grades.

Going to bed later means no time with your friends. A recent article states that, “Forget sleep, according to this formula you won’t be spending much time with friends either” (Stillman). Well if you stay up late watching Netflix instead of studying you will have to stay in for recess and have no fun. Instead, you will be in a classroom doing boring work. Not turning in homework because you are too tired, equals loss of privileges and again staying in for missing work. Therefore, going to sleep early means you will enjoy more time with friends.

Going to sleep earlier equals less stress and many privileges. According to a recent study, “Compared to people who turn in (go to bed) early, those who go to bed very late are more likely to be very overwhelmed with repetitive negative thoughts” (Osmun). Well when you do your work and study instead of dilly dallying, then you can have awesome grades and enjoy many privileges. When you study and work hard you have less stress for grades. When you sleep early and have privileges, maybe Netflix can be one of those. So somewhere you still have time to watch your favorite series, tv shows, or movies. Go to sleep early so that you can enjoy privileges and less stress.

Kaʻōlapa M.

Why Going Outdoors Regularly is a Good Practice

By: Kaʻōlapa M.

John needs to write a good story for the school paper. He tries and tries, but he can't think of any creative ideas. John gets frustrated and takes a break outside. John calms down and is suprised how the outdoors is so peaceful. Then, he thinks of it, he is going to write a poem for the school paper about the outdoors. Like John, everyone should go outdoors everyday. Going outdoors regularly can help people with their mental health, immunity to sickness, and productivity at work or school.

Who likes to feel stressed or just simply junk? Going outside regularly can help with reducing stress and depression according to a study conducted by the University of Michigan (Chang). Going outdoors also helps people to have a positive outlook on life because going outdoors naturally brings a positive feeling (Chang). Clearly, going outdoors regularly is beneficial to mental health.

Feeling under the weather? Going outside everyday can help with people's immunity to sickness and diseases. Going outside regularly can help with overall health because of vitamin D (Narvaez). Most of people's vitamin D comes from the sun, and they can't get it if they are indoors right? Vitamin D prevents the common cold and the flu. In addition, vitamin D can even prevent certain types of cancer (Chang)!

Can't seem to get any work done in the classroom? Well, going outdoors can help! Studies have shown that going outdoors can help with concentration (Chang). "Scientists studied two groups of kids with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) -one had spent time playing outside, and another group played indoors. They found that the kids who spent time in the green, outdoor spaces exhibited less symptoms of ADHD, even though both groups did the same activities" (Chang).  

Clearly, spending time outside will help with productivity in the working business.

Some people say "What about video games! VIDEO GAMES ROCK! Are you saying we can't play video games!!" NO! That's not what I'm saying! Video games are fun in all but it's important to limit the time with them. Spending too much time indoors playing video games can cause Computer Eye Syndrome (CVS). This is caused from looking at a screen for too long (Chang). Also, if you stay indoors too long you may become near sighted and you don't want that (Chang). So, you can play video games, but take a break and get outside.

If people don't spend time outdoors, they will miss out on so many health benefits and have a greater chance of developing many sicknesses and diseases. On the other hand, going outdoors can help people with stress, concentration, and help their immunity to sickness. Clearly, spending time outdoors is the thing to do.

Cammie M.

Organization Isn't Always the Key

By Cammie M.

She wakes up at 6:00 A.M. and leaves the house at 6:45 A.M. She gets home at 6:00 P.M. from sports if she's lucky. When she gets home, it's just to do homework. She needs to have the kind of room that she's comfortable to do it in. A chaotic room shows proof of a creative mindset. A chaotic room doesn't mean that the person has a chaotic mindset, it actually shows proof of an innovative person. “A messy room is good because you have everything where you want it”(Pickhardt). More people need to have messy rooms.

A messy room actually shows proof of a creative mindset. For example, “If your room is messy it's a creative kind of messy”(Scotti). Another way a messy room shows a creative mindset is because when you lose something you have to think creatively to figure out where it is in your room, where you left it, and how you are going to find it.

“With a disorganized room comes an innovative person”(Pena). How? You may ask. You think outside of the box to figure out how you got your room so messy. Another way that it shows an innovative person is because when your parents tell you to clean your room you have to innovatively think about how you are going to fit everything that is in your room in an organized way.

Another way that a messy room is good is because “you have everything where you want it”(Scotti). For example, if your room is messy it's your kind of clean. What I mean by that is that you have everything organized where you want it, even if it looks messy.

While some may argue that you can't walk through a messy room, or you are unable to see your feet when you walk through a messy room, people walk through forests and long grass all the time. Also, there can be a path through all of that “stuff”. Is there a path between long grass or through forests with no hiking paths? Not always, but people manage to find their way.

If people don't let their kids have a messy room, then how are kids going to show their inner creativity? Clearly, having a messy room enlightens young kids' minds. A child's mind clearly isn't as messy as their room if their room is messy. Think about, if a child has a messy room aren't they more creative than a child with a nice and clean room? Now remember, a messy room is actually very organized because you have everything exactly where you want it.

Zackary L.

Why Students Should Be Rewarded

Zackary L.

   According to education experts, giving rewards is a great way for students to improve in their classes (“Pros and Cons of Rewards Systems in Primary Schools”). In other words, Teachers should reward students what they do in school. Rewarding students can help students to have good behaviors, get good grades, and improve their skills in classes.

    When given rewards, students' behaviors will change and sky rocket (Toney). This means that if teachers do not like a student's behavior, they can change it through using rewards.

    Second, students will improve their grades. According to education experts, students improve when participating from teachers using rewards. Rewards help a lot with students who have bad grades or with students that never do their work in school or at home (“Pros and Cons of Rewards Systems in Primary Schools”). Clearly using rewards motivates students who struggle.

    Last, Students can build self-confidence. When not having rewards, students will be shy during group talks or any other communication lessons. But, when given rewards, students will start to participate in what they are learning in class. It also shows who they are in life (“Pros and Cons of Rewards Systems in Primary Schools”).

    While other people think rewarding students can cause addiction, bribing, and other sorts of problems. It gets students to do better than what they were doing from before. It also can help get students prepared for college.

    If teachers don't use rewards, classes might be loud or not as behaved. Students also might be unprepared for their upcoming futures. Therefore, students should always be rewarded for what they've achieved in class.

Anonymous

Family Members Being Nicer to Each Other                                Improves Relationships - Anonymous

     Being nice to one another in a family not only helps you mentally, but it helps you physically as well.  “The University of Minnesota's project EAT revealed that teens consume more fruit, veggies, and calcium-and drink less soda during family meals”(Laurie).  Why do you think that teens consume less soda during family meals?  By engaging in conversations with each other, family members are nicer to each other.  This improves relationships among family members.  Family interaction helps family members understand one another.  A parenting Specialist states that, “Once kids are in school and spending time with friends, parents are often surprised how little they know  about their kids’ activities, tastes, interests, friends, political views, etc.”(Brott).  By being nicer to each other will change how people treat others, it will stop conflicts and negative emotions towards one another, and family member will converse more and learn about one another's activities.

Interacting with each other at home does not only affect family members, but it affects others in people's everyday lives too.  By communicating and engaging in activities with family, friends, teachers, and even the people around the neighborhood feel a difference.  How a family treats each other positively or negatively effects other people around them.

    Do you really know if you're taking your family’s presence to your advantage?  By taking your family’s presence to your advantage, you can build trust, respect, and understanding with one another.  This was also stated by a trustworthy article in Sutter Health, “Use your family's presence to your advantage –communicate with each other, develop ways to value boundaries, and build trust and  respect”(Brown).    These aspects are essential for a good relationship with family members.  When someone can trust and respect you in a family, then you know that you have taken advantage of your family’s presence in a positive way.

     By looking at the world from a different perspective you can change how you think about the people around you and can create happier outcomes.  There may be instances where there are arguments in a family.  But, depending on how you look at the world and situation, you can create stable relationships stated.  In fact, an article states that "By making a few simple changes in the way we look at the world and deal with other people, it is possible to create happier, more stable relationships. Families need to be units of mutual caring and support; they can be sources of lifelong strength for all individuals” (Brown).  

     Some may say parents need to take disciplinary actions and be strict in order to teach their children.  When teaching a child what is supposed to be done without any negative effects from their actions.  Sometimes parents don't consider the calmer approach.  The outcome of understanding why they do different things can lead to friendlier actions, compared to what other people think is the right way of taking disciplinary actions. Therefore, by being friendly to other family members, people won't have the outcome of negative actions seen when disciplinary actions are taken.  Instead, people will have understanding   and comfort from one another.  

     If people don't try to understand their own family members and don't try to cooperate with one another, then the world will see more conflicts.  In addition to more conflicts parents will not understand their children.  Therefore, all family members will receive stress.  So, obviously family members should start to understand one another and strengthen their relationships.

Makaya K.

A Daily Bathroom Cleaning by Makaya K.

Did you know that only 47% of people clean their bathrooms everyday? You will clean your bathroom everyday after reading this! Cleaning the bathroom everyday eliminates appalling smells coming from your bathroom, reduces the amount of work you have to do, and finding all of your bathroom products is easier.

Does anyone wanna go to the bathroom at their friend’s house and end up smelling a sewer? I know for sure that I do not want to smell that! I know the simplest things like flushing the toilet and taking out the trash can cure a stench that could be brewing in your bathroom. According to research “The smallest amount of garbage can leave a room smelling foul”(Smith). It is simple things like this that make you a step closer to having a clean bathroom everyday.

Do you like to do a lot of work? I really don’t like a lot work! So getting rid of filth in an easy swipe once a day is a lot better than a month of filth needing to be scrubbed! According to research, “Warm water loosens the dirt and grime” (Cowles). Doing this daily will save you from a load of work later.

How many bathroom products does a person need? Well, people like me obviously need a lot! With all of my bathroom products from dental to hair, people need a lot of space. But sharing a bathroom with a lot of people makes that super complicated. So you need to keep your bathroom clean everyday. According to an article by spending a little time cleaning and straightening up counters daily, you save time later when you are getting ready (Smith).

Although people may say cleaning the bathroom everyday is a waste of your time, it is a daily routine that needs to be done to prevent a stink or dirty bathroom.

Just remember that cleaning your bathroom is a daily task! Hopefully you will eliminate that appalling smell, reduce your overall amount of work, and find your bathroom products in less time.