27 Healthy Study Habits
Brianna De La Riva
This chapter will explore and examine healthy study habits for you to promote academic achievement and good health. This chapter will provide strategies to help you achieve a healthy balance between your academic and personal life. Topics covered will range from the social, physical, cognitive, nutritional, motivational, and emotional aspects of life and positive coping mechanisms.
The University of Georgia has found that, on average, most college students get 6-6.9 hours of sleep per night, and the college years are notoriously sleep-deprived due to an overload of activities. It is suggested that establishing a consistent sleep schedule and maintaining between 7-8 hours per night is beneficial. Lack of sleep causes a physical toll on the body and brain, leading to fatigue of the body and it affects mental acuity. Tips for maintaining a healthy sleep routine is by having one, a set time to wake up and go to bed at the same time every day. Avoiding caffeine before bedtime, avoid eating within two or three hours of your planned bedtime, and avoid alcohol or nicotine before bedtime.
Healthy Food Habits
Many of you opt to fast food drive-thrus rather than making a home-cooked meal, saving time for your studies. This leads to overall poorer health; fast food is high in sodium, sugar, and calories. This diet can lead to diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. For a healthier diet, you should be consuming more plants and nuts. Batch cooking solves the dilemma between time and healthier eating. Stews, casseroles, or soups are healthier meals to cook at the beginning of the week and frozen until needed.
Motivational Strategies
You may occasionally lack motivation in your educational endeavors, the long hours of studying, and sacrifices in life to ensure excellent grades may take its toll. Despite the massive amounts of students entering college, it has been found that not all will persist and earn college degrees. Motivational strategies remind you that your purpose is to achieve your goals. Begin by setting small, specific, realistic goals to achieve self-efficacy. Visualizing yourself walking across the stage to earn that degree and how it will change your life.
Cognitive Health
It is crucial that you maintain your mental and emotional, cognitive health. Academic achievement is important as a marker of positive adjustments, academic achievement sets the stage for future educational and occupational opportunities. It’s imperative for you to be cognizant of your cognitive health and how to maintain it. Negative thoughts such as, “It’s the worst that I failed that test!”, instead think, “It’s not good I failed that test, what resources are available for me to improve on my next one?”. Most importantly, stay positive and have a support system.
Writing, reading, being able to work with a diverse work team, and having the social skills required to be successful in a career and in society are qualities that