.Is lying in your bean bag and binge-watching your favorite pastime? Then you are probably heading towards a lethargic lifestyle! In fact, a 2018 poll found that 60% of American adults who use on-demand streaming services binge watch. This is how you take baby steps towards a disorganized lifestyle.
Your capacity to concentrate and retain information suffers due to a bad diet, lack of sleep or exercise, increasing stress levels, and weakening the immune system.
So, have you wondered how your lifestyle affects your education or your grades? If not, it's time that you consider this a serious concern, as your lifestyle will also mold your career.
For your convenience, experts have mentioned here the habits you must prevent and the ones you must practice. So, keep reading till the end –
Bad Habits Every Student Must Avoid
1. Continual snacking, even when not hungry
Chronic overeating and the extra pounds you gain can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and other serious problems.
It's also a common health issue when you lose touch with your body's normal hunger and satisfaction signals.
Often, you would like to munch on junk food because you are stuck in a complicated assignment. Even though these cravings are for a short time, you might consume loads of fats and cholesterol.
2. Skipping Breakfast
Do you often skip your breakfast? Then you must know that it's the first meal of the day that fuels your weight, energy, and blood sugar levels. So when you eat a slice of morning bread or a bowl of bran flakes, your metabolism tells you that it's time to get moving.
If you skip the fuel, your metabolism will slow down, resulting in weight gain and sluggishness.
You'll also develop a starvation-now-indulgence-later eating habit, so people who skip breakfast are more likely to overeat later in the day.
3. Unhealthy sleeping patterns
Students tend to stay up late working on assignments, watching television or OTT content, or simply hanging out, which leaves them exhausted the next day.
Sleep deprivation impacts brain function, particularly the ability to remember information.
What you can do is get at least eight hours of sleep each night, go to bed, and wake up simultaneously every day.
This may appear unattainable, but it is achievable if students manage their time well enough to complete their projects and studies on time.
4. Choosing not to exercise
Regular exercise is necessary for a student's physical health, but it is also essential for cognitive development.
Instead, students choose to stay indoors and spend their time on video and puzzle games. Even though they help boost your mental skills, you need to work on physical activities.
Exercise improves blood flow to the brain's hippocampus. So, why don't you encourage yourself to go for a walk for 10-15 minutes each day?
5. Spending Too Much Time With Digital Devices
It's a common habit among students to surf the internet for hours or binge-watch a series in this digital age. But excessive screen time can be harmful to your health.
Too much screen time harms eyesight and makes the mind dull.
In fact, students unknowingly invest a lot of time on the internet and later end up on academic services to buy their assignments online.
So, to do your best to make a good lifestyle, why don't you follow these golden habits –
Good habits to improve a student's lifestyle
1. Maintain a balanced diet
Healthy eating does not imply denying your favorite food. Instead, it's all about limiting your junk food intake.
Try to include more hydrating elements in your diet. For example, even though many students avoid having greens, opting for a bowl of salad a day is a wise choice.
You can get energy by eating nutrient-dense foods like whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats, and vitamins.
2. Read books that keep you motivated
You might have sought many suggestions on how to stay positive or motivated. But none has worked.
Well, some things always work, just like choosing a book by your favorite author or your favorite classic story.
Books have the capacity to grow your knowledge and enlighten the unknown.
Note that reading a hard copy is always healthier than switching to pdf or ebooks.
So, starting today, get your favorite books and start reading!
3. Involve yourself in creative activities
Do you remember, when you were young, teachers would involve you in group activities to make art projects or ask you to draw your favorite flower? Those sessions were meant to boost your creative genes.
You can continue doing it now!
On weekends, get involved in creative works you like best. It can be doodling, making scrapbooks, sketching, making handmade papers, painting, etc.
4. Make sure you get enough rest
Sleep deprivation is a widespread issue among college students. You probably give it up when you have a paper due tomorrow or a presentation to prepare for.
However, you should aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day.
Rather than pulling an all-nighter, schedule your homework, and divide it into smaller segments.
5. Get involved in lots of physical activities
Regular physical activity boosts your aerobic capacity, strengthens your muscles, and helps you maintain a healthy weight. In addition, it lowers tension and elevates mood.
Try to avail the sports facilities and activities available in your colleges and universities.
When you're already near the university gym, you can work out between or after courses.
Apart from routine exercises, you must also change habits like taking the staircase to the third floor of your department rather than the lift.
If your hostel or room is just 5 minutes away, why take the bus when you can walk!
Switching to such smaller steps will automatically get you in a good physique.
6. Maintaining a Journal to Reduce Study Stress
Your college or university life can be demanding as you are stuck between balancing study and daily activities.
Hence, to make things organized, you can try keeping a journal as it's beneficial in reducing your stress levels.
It helps bring out your inner sensations and let your thoughts be cleared.
Furthermore, it fosters a good attitude toward your academics, motivating you to achieve your objectives.
7. Avoid studying late at night
Many college students follow a schedule that is diametrically opposed to the norm. They study at night and either sleep or party during the day.
Avoid staying up late if you want to live a healthy lifestyle.
Instead of working late at night, you can prepare for your task in the evening. This way, you can refer more to what has been taught in your class.
Try not to consume caffeine after eight at night, as it's another reason you don't feel tired, and tend to stay up late at night.
Concluding with…
Identifying that a habit is harmful and modifying a habit takes self-awareness and a lot of effort. Hence, the first step toward making a positive change this school year is to identify which habits are hindering your academic progress.
Now that you have a stock of these good habits to utilize, try to imply them and take a step towards a healthy lifestyle.
Author Bio – Patrick Austin has a Ph.D. in Psychology and is a student counselor hailing from New York. He is also associated with the academic help site Assignmenthelp.us where he offers study help to students pursuing Psychology. In addition, Austin likes to volunteer at animal shelters and read books in his free time
0
