LIFE
Student LifeHacks Series: 1
By Amelia Mezrahi
Life Hacks for School
10 HEALTH HACKS MENTAL
EXERCISE. Exercise has long been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, or depression. For students spending hours studying in dorms and libraries as well as sitting in classrooms, getting exercise is critical to both your health and your mental state. Find whatever works for you – running, biking, a team sport or yoga. The key is to make it part of your routine so you are sure to get that break several times a week, ideally daily.
2
DIET. Just as exercise will improve your mental state, getting your diet right is also important. Avoid fatty or carbohydrate-heavy foods that will leave you tired and lethargic as well as lead to weight gain. Look for high fiber fruits and vegetables to be on your plate when in the dining hall. Stock your dorm room with healthy snacks, and as they always say – drink plenty of water.
3
SLEEP. In addition to making you more productive and improving performance on exams, getting enough sleep will improve your mood. Ideally use your smartphone to try not only to get enough sleep but to keep yourself to as regular hours as possible. According to researchers at MIT and Harvard, getting consistent good quality sleep is responsible for as much as 25 percent of the variance on tests! (https://bit.ly/38TNJqE )
7
AVOID ALCOHOL AND DRUGS. Many people turn to a drink or drugs to self-medicate. This rarely solves your problems and instead is much more likely to aggravate them and create even worse problems. Take it easy on the alcohol. If you find yourself regularly binge drinking during the week, this is a warning sign.
8
4
TRY MINDFULNESS. Learning to quiet your mind is a great skill for reducing stress and escaping other problems. There are many free short videos online, apps you can download as well as programs offered through many schools. This can be as simple as saying 3 things you like about yourself every day. Want to try an easy one, set a timer and just focus on breathing for 5 minutes. Try to just think about breathing. Those minutes will go by fast and you may feel better faster than you think. Again, there are lots of resources online and at many universities (for example, https://bit.ly/3zWWpsp).
5
TAP YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK. It’s easy to cut yourself off from friends and family when you are in a bad state. But that is a terrible mistake as they are your best resource. These are the people that understand and will support you. And while texting a friend can help, also remember there is no substitute for hearing a human voice over the phone or meeting up face to face for coffee. You are never too busy to get help from a friend.
VOLUNTEER OR JOIN A CLUB. Clubs and volunteering offer several benefits. First, they offer regular structure to get you out and about. Second, they are a chance to meet and connect with people. Third, they allow you to feel good about yourself by helping others. Schools are ideal locations as you already have dozens of clubs or volunteering opportunities already set up around you. Just go to the student activities website or a bulletin board at the student center for a quick listing of clubs.
#23418f
FIND A HOBBY. When it is a bad day, ask yourself what you enjoy. So many of the activities we do in school, especially before college, are about building a resume. By contrast hobbies are activities that draw us in and take us away from our troubles. Feeling anxiety, try arts and crafts, jigsaw puzzles or baking. Want something more physical, try dancing or yoga. What about writing? Many of the most successful writers have long channeled their emotions into their work to find release and respite.
6
REWARD YOURSELF. Rewards can be very helpful in supporting your mental health. First, we all know that small rewards (e.g., a chocolate after every 5 problems, buying an app when you finish your homework) can keep you on track and
[ 24 ]
fight procrastination. This is important because if your mental state is distracting you from getting your work done, falling behind can easily put you into an even worse state. Second, those small pieces of joy throughout the day and week can add up and help bring you to the next level.
Magazine • Fall 2021 • www.nextstepu.com
#168fce
9
REACH OUT FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP When other hacks aren’t working or you are in a really bad state, seek support from your school. Counseling is almost always free and available. It is also confidential. Your health is too important to risk. Millions of students talk to a counselor at their school each year and you should feel equally comfortable doing so as well.
10
#eb2
