By Danielle Rice || Layout Assistant
Get more sleep and stick to a consistent sleep schedule.
According to The Good Body, 7 out of 10 college students don’t get an adequate amount of sleep. This lack of sleep can build up and leave you half-asleep and unfocused in classes. Sleeping late on the weekends may help, but it will throw off your sleep cycle, making your early Monday mornings that much worse. In short, all of us could use the extra sleep. Count back from what time you have to wake up to try to get the recommended amount – 8 hours. So turn off your phone and computer and go to sleep – you’ll be glad you did the next day.
Drink half of your body weight in water.
Water makes up 60 percent of our bodies and most of us don’t get the quantity that we need. Water has so many benefits for us, including improved focus and increased energy. Aim for half your body weight in ounces or 8 glasses. And remember, for every cup of coffee, you need to drink an additional cup of water!
Plan out your study time.
Planning out your study time can force you to get work done. If you have a free afternoon or morning, devote a few hours to going to the library and studying. If you treat it like a weekly time commitment like a class or club, you will be less likely to miss it, and with intense focus for this allotted time, you can get most or all of your work done. This way, you maximize your time and you have more time to go out with friends or relax in your room.
Get ahead on work and stay ahead.
If you have extra time on the weekend, try to get ahead for the next week. Staying a day or two ahead can be a big life-saver if you ever need to take a night off or a unexpected assignment comes up.
Make small alterations to your meals.
In college, it’s almost impossible to diet. But small changes can improve your internal health and help your physique. Add a few veggies to your sandwich or switch out your regular wrap for a spinach one. Have a side salad along with your meal. The additional fiber and nutrients will improve your digestion, health, and energy. If you have the choice between an apple or chips, choose the apple!
If snacking is a problem for you, try not keeping snacks in your room.
Having snacks visible and readily available makes snacking incredibly easy. One solution is to not store snacks in your room at all which will force you to go out and get food when you want it. This will eliminate mindless snacking and really test how much you want the food – if you just want it because it’s there, or if you are willing to brave the weather and trek to get it. Plus, you will burn a few calories on the walk there.
Take some time to de-stress.
According to Chadron State University, more than 40 percent of college students felt more than an average amount of stress. Stress is inevitable in college, so it’s necessary to plan time to counteract this stress. However you de-stress, whether it’s by listening to your favorite tunes, taking a walk, following a meditation app, or doing some hot yoga. You can also look into a skin resurfacing treatment such as Morpheus8 skin tightening treatment or laser treatments in Tinley Park, IL; consult experts such as Willow Medspa & Fitness in New Richmond, WI or Bellaire Dermatology in Houston, TX before undergoing one. Make sure to schedule the time to do this.
First-year Danielle Rice is a Layout Assistant. Her email is drice1@fandm.edu.
https://www.csc.edu/bit/resources/statistics/