Healthy Study Habits
The start of the school year and all the responsibilities that come with it (homework, exams, studying) can take a toll on your physical and emotional well-being. Here are a few tips to help you keep your stress levels down and still ace the year.
- Sleep more. Adequate sleep is critical to the learning process. When you don’t sleep, your ability to process and retain information is compromised. So strive to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.
- Bring snacks. Healthy snacks (fruit, cheese, nuts, veggies and dip) will give you the energy boost you need to make it through the school day. It will also help you stay away from the campus vending machine and its snack no-nos.
- Drink water. Dehydration can lead to a sluggish mind and even headaches. Remember, water is best. If you need some flavor, choose Crystal Light® or other low-calorie water additives. Avoid caffeinated drinks. While they may give you a burst of energy, you’ll likely crash when the caffeine wears off.
- Pace yourself. Instead of pulling all-nighters, cut back on your television and computer time so that you can study daily instead of cramming. This will allow your brain to absorb and actually retain the information rather than just learn it for the day.
- Take breaks. When studying, get up every 1-2 hours and take a quick walk, jog in place, or just doing some light stretching. This movement will help keep you focused and alert.
- Eliminate distractions. Trying to study while texting, posting on Facebook, or watching television is a plan for failure. Focus on the task at hand and you’ll find that studying takes up less of your time.
- Stay relaxed. Studying can be stressful, especially if the subject matter isn’t coming as easy as you would like. When frustration starts to creep in, close your eyes and focus only on breathing. Slowly breathe in and out for two minutes. Then open your eyes and return to your studying.
