Ways to Achieve Health and Wellness for Improved College Performance
College life is demanding, and sometimes students get carried away and become lax with important areas of their lives, specifically health, and wellness. Students have to juggle their academics, social life, and well-being, which can sometimes be difficult. However, collegians should create a good balance because their health and general well-being significantly affect their college performance. We have compiled some ways collegians can improve in these areas, become well-rounded individuals, and record impressive grades.
Physical Wellness
Your physical health goes beyond just illness or injuries. It involves taking care of your body so it can take care of you. When students get to college, they experience a level of freedom that most are not used to, which comes with some responsibility. They have to make choices about everything, like what and when to eat, how much to sleep, and what activities to indulge in. While this level of freedom is great for personal growth and development, it should also teach personal responsibility.
Here are some practices to improve your overall physical wellness.
Get Enough Sleep
How much do you sleep on average? 7 hours? 4hours? A student should get at least 6 hours of sleep on most nights. Sleep helps your body recover from your daily activities, and thus it should be a priority. When you are well rested, you’ll have more energy for the next day’s activities. It also helps you stay alert for your classes and study times. Respect your time for sleep regardless of what field you might be pursuing. So don’t stay up late trying to find the best essay writing service.
Pay Attention to What You Consume
What you eat or drink affects how you feel hours later or even the next day. For example, caffeinated drinks are usually a good option for helping you stay alert and energized. However, when you take too much, you become susceptible to a caffeine crash, which involves dozing off during the day, having trouble focusing, and a general feeling of tiredness.
Your meals can also have similar effects if you don’t watch your quantities. And, of course, we have to mention alcohol because hangovers are brutal and will impact your focus and productivity, especially when you have a big day ahead. So, try to watch your quantities and eat healthily.
Stay Active
Fit in some physical activities in your day, whether walking, yoga, going to the gym, or participating in sports. Your body benefits from physical activity, and it will reward you with better endurance and muscle strength. Furthermore, exercising helps you sleep better and improves your physical health in the long run. Exercising is not easy and can take time to get used to, but that should not discourage you. If you find yourself struggling with regular exercise, start small. If you struggle to run, start by taking routine walks and then work up to gym exercises. It’s all about consistency.
Mental Wellness
Meeting the demands of college can be stressful, and students often get overwhelmed. From meeting tight assignment deadlines to studying for tough exams, it can be a challenging experience sometimes. However, there are better ways to cope with stress and the pressure to succeed that don’t involve adopting harmful habits. These are habits such as substance abuse, binging food, movies, or overindulging in social media. Some of the better coping mechanisms include the following.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves understanding your feelings and reacting accordingly. It becomes useful when students are overwhelmed and need to take a moment and focus on what’s important. Here’re some ways you can incorporate mindfulness:
- Take deep breaths – it helps slow your heart rate and ease your mind, which goes a long way in managing stressful situations.
- Gratitude journals – amidst all the stress about school, it’s easy to develop negative feelings that invite depression. A journal that reminds you of the good things in your life and pulls focus from the negatives.
- Approach tasks one at a time – you can overwhelm your mind and get stuck when you focus on too many things at once. So prioritize all you need to do and work through them one at a time.
- Visualize the positives – do you have a tough test coming up? See yourself acing it and then start working. It boosts your confidence and helps eliminate self-doubt that might harm your performance.
Having a Support Network
Identify individuals you can rely on for support during tough moments. They can be close friends, family, mentors, professors, or counselors. Have someone you can talk to and trust to listen to what you’re going through. Your support network will help you navigate some hurdles through advice or by being present. Universities now offer easy access to mental health assistance, and you should use it. Don’t wait until your mental health reaches critical states to start acting.
Proper Planning
Sometimes students struggle to meet the demands of college because of poor planning. It’s why some students resort to platforms such as edugenie reviews trying to find the help they need to beat deadlines. When you don’t plan your time or procrastinate too much, you’ll likely be anxious and stressed during the last-minute rush to complete it. So create good schedules and develop the discipline to stick to them.
Taking Breaks
Burnout is often the result of students not taking breaks. When you’ve had a busy week, take a day, maybe on the weekend, and unwind. It gives your mind a chance to recover and regain peak performance. Fit breaks into your daily schedule, whether during meals or between stressful tasks. It doesn’t have to be a long break; taking 5 to 10 minutes to rest after 45 minutes of work will help you recharge and keep going longer.
Singing Off
College prepares students for the real world. Learning to handle pressure makes you better at pursuing your academic and career goals. It all begins by working on your physical and mental wellness. Getting adequate sleep, watching what you consume, and staying active will help keep you in a good physical state. Likewise, practicing mindfulness, getting a support network, and proper planning will keep your mind healthy.
