Okay, we cut you some slack. But listen up: If you're still wandering the house in your PJs, picking over the previously unwanted pieces of chocolate, playing Rock Band as if you're on auto-pilot -- or all of the above! -- it's time for a change of routine.

School's been back in session for a while, and the holidays are so yesterday. To help get you off the couch, here are 11 ways to Do Something happy, healthy and fun this month and all through the year.

1. Start small. Most of us having been hitting the fridge rather than the gym for the past month -- and all those treats can leave you feeling sluggish. No wonder you're having a hard time hitting the restart button! But take our advice: Save the five-mile run for another time; you'll hate yourself after Mile One and hurt tomorrow. Today, take a walk. Tomorrow, try a bike ride or a workout with the Wii. The next day . . . and the next? Here are more ways to get yourself in shape.
2. Get fiscally fit. Spend a little more than you planned to over the holidays? Join the club. A. Challenge yourself to pay off any credit card debt (or loans to older siblings) before March 1. B. Start saving so you don't end up in that situation again. Decide on a specific amount to put away (preferably in a bank account -- that way it's not easily accessible) each month. You'll be surprised at how much you'll amass by cutting back on just a few things a month (note: Reason No. 826 Why Smoking Stinks -- cigarettes are super expensive!). C. Make a budget and challenge yourself to stick to it. Your reward will pile up fast! Need more tips? Check out our financial education info.
3. Update your family's delicious but been-there/ate-that dinner options with some healthy new recipes. Try a new fish dish. Or include olive oil instead of butter in pastas; it's better for your heart and brain. Drink water, milk or fresh-brewed (read: sugar-free)iced tea instead of soda or juice, as those last two pack a lot of empty calories (you'll need the energy now that you're no longer sleeping past noon). Make fruit salad instead of ice cream for dessert. For more ideas on healthy eating, head over to our healthy living section.
4. Set a fun fitness goal for '09. We hear Joe Jonas is newly obsessed with running. Some other ideas: Sign up for a weekly dance or martial arts class. Try yoga or pilates. If you're already an ace-athlete, push yourself in a new way: Try training for a biathlon, triathlon, or a 10-K run. Whatever you do, set a goal and stick with it for at least three months. Need that extra push? Sign up for a walk-, run-, or bike-a-thon for charity. You wouldn't want to let those sponsors down, would you?
5. Get snacking – healthfully, that is! You have to be sick of all of that chocolate by now. No? Well, try these snack-packs anyway; they're so easy to throw into a bag and nibble on at your locker in between classes. A small bag of nuts, an apple, string cheese, granola bars, fruit skewers, and yogurt are just a few ideas. Or make a big bowl of homemade trail mix to dole out over the next few weeks – combine nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips, and your fave cereal for a healthy (and sweet) treat. Here are some tips for healthy eating.
6. Be a real-life hero: Save your community, save the world! Nothing will break you out of that back-to-school slump like making a positive change in your own backyard. Text "Do Something" to 38383, input your zip, and get the low-down on volunteer opportunities in your area. It's that easy! So get texting!
7. Veg out! Been thinking about laying off the meat? No time like the present. But FYI: As a young person it's especially important to make sure you're doing it right; you need protein and nutrients often found in meat. For your shopping list: peanut butter, milk, hummus, tofu, and soy -- all great sources of animal-friendly protein. If healthy living is your motivation for going veggie, here some more healthy tips for organic living. Or, if you're interested in ixnaying the meat as a sign of your commitment to animal rights, go here for the facts on animal welfare
8. Unplug for one hour a week -- sleeping hours don't count. It may not sound like a lot, but honestly, when was the last time you weren't on the computer, playing a video game, watching TV, texting a friend, talking on the cell, etc.? Retrain your brain by giving it other things to do. Start with NOTHING. Your computer needs to be shut off sometimes; so does your mind. Try meditation -- sit still, take deep breaths, and concentrate on the darkness behind your closed eyes. Do this for five minutes at first; the next time, 10. You'll be surprised how good it feels! Yoga and skiing are other activities that require total concentration, thus allowing you to free up some of those usually multi-tasking brain cells. Learn more about how to take control of your mental health.
9. Communicate with people in person. Consider this to be a Part B to No. 8. So much gets lost in texting translation. Dedicate one hour a week to talking to someone who could use the company, like a new student at school, a senior citizen who doesn't have family in the area, or your young sibling who, let's be honest, you haven't really been paying much attention to lately. Send a snail-mail note to check in with loved ones instead of an email every once in a while. In the end, they won't be the only ones who benefit.
10. Pat yourself on the back instead of beating yourself up! Most of us mindlessly throw out the "I suck at math," the "I'm terrible at sports" or the: "Ugh, I look/feel so (insert nasty word here)". Self-dissing has become a competitive sport among friends (i.e.,"My hair's hideous." "No, MY hair's REALLY hideous!" etc.) Newsflash: Such statements are hazardous to your health! (C'mon: Now that you've seen them in print, you have to agree!) Next time you feel an "I suck at math," leaving your lips, follow it up with a "...but I just got an A on my American History quiz!" Get your friends in on the act so this resolution sticks! And we have more great ways for you to improve your self-esteem.
11. Clean out your closet. It's overflowing with stuff that doesn't fit, you no longer like, or completely forgot about. If you haven't worn it in a year, it's time to get rid of it. Google a local shelter, Good Will or the Salvation Army to find a place to drop off the stuff that's gotta go . . . except for your jeans. Make a separate pile of denim that you are no longer digging in preparation for Do Something's annual Teens For Jeans drive, coming later this month; we'll make sure they get to a homeless teen in your area, and you'll get a 20% off coupon from Aeropostale for a new pair for every old one you turn in. For more information -- including an upcoming PSA with spokesperson Chace Crawford of Gossip Girl! -- head to our Teens for Jeans page to check it out.