Whether you’re in college, high school, a teacher, or elementary school, we have hit the point in the semester where everything is crazy. Exams keep coming. Papers’ deadlines are fast approaching. We’re playing catch-up with old work while new work is being handed to us. And on top of that, a lot of us are starting to get that little “cold,” the one where your nose is kind of stuffy and your throat is a little sore or your head hurts a bit more than usual. While we want to throw ourselves into our work, this is the exact time where we need to focus on our personal time and relaxation in order to maintain our mental health. Here are five tips to remind you how to put yourself back in focus.
1. Get some sleep. Sleep helps promote productivity, so it could be better to get a good night’s sleep to get tasks done than staying up all night to do them (Medical News Today, 2019). For athletes, sleep also improves athletic performance, and for everybody, it improves physical health, including decreasing chances of weight gain and lowering risks of heart disease (Medical News Today, 2019). Getting consistently good sleep can also help lower chances of depression (Medical News Today, 2019).
2. Eat healthy foods. I’m looking at you, college students. Eating healthy is important because it helps you avoid diseases, but it is also proven to have a tie to academics. Individuals who have better eating habits and other healthy habits tend to perform better in school and have a better memory than those who don’t eat well (CDC, 2021). So, eat breakfast, gobble up your fruits and veggies, and find some good proteins to help you physically and with school.
3. Consider meditation or religious exploration. Many religions have ways that they teach for finding peace, maybe through prayer, song, or services. If you are religious, connect yourself more with those practices. If you aren’t religious, consider investigating some religions, learning about what they believe and how they teach. If you have strong opinions against religion, meditation is a great option as well. There are many podcasts and YouTube channels dedicated to meditation, and there are different kinds from complete silence to some guidance to music and background noise. The important part is that you take time to address the stressors in your life and find a way to relax.
4. Find time to do something you love. This could be reading, watching a movie, going for a walk, hanging out with friends and family, or doing some arts and crafts, but make sure you find time to do something that interests you. Having hobbies can help you destress and, in general, help you become healthier mentally and physically (Columbiabadmin, 2018). Also, doing something you love is fun.
5. Manage your time. While we may all just want the work to go away, it won't. We need to manage our time to balance the homework, grading, time with family, eating, sleeping, and having fun. For some people, they want to schedule their time down to the minute. For other’s, they just want a vague schedule. Find what works for you, but stick with it, and manage your time.
Good luck, and happy studying.
References
CDC. (2021, September 21). Eating Healthier at School. Center for Disease Control. Retrieved
October 29, 2021, from
cdc.gov/healthyschools/features/eating_healthier.htm#:~:text=Healthy%20students%20are%20better%20learners,reduced%20absences%2C%20and%20improved%20memory.
Columbiaabadmin. (2018, December 12). Life of a Student: The Importance of Having a Hobby.
Columbia College Calgary. Retrieved October 29, 2021, from
https://www.columbia.ab.ca/the-importance-of-having-a-hobby/.
Medical News Today. (2019, May 31). Why Sleep is Essential for Health. Medical News Today.
Retrieved October 29, 2021, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/.