Self-care can feel like a luxury to a time-stressed student, but it’s actually the glue that holds everything else together. Here’s what your student needs to know about the far-reaching benefits of making a healthy lifestyle a priority.
Sleep
It’s tempting to burn the candle at both ends when you’re studying for exams or trying to meet a deadline for a big assignment, but you aren’t doing yourself any favors, health-wise or academically. Most of us need a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep per day in order to function at our best. Getting adequate sleep boosts our mood, makes it easier to concentrate, and enhances both our ability to cope and to think creatively.
Exercise
Convinced that you don’t have time to take a walk or head to the gym? This might help to convince you that you don’t have time not to: Exercise not only reduces anxiety, boosts your mood, and improves the quality of your sleep; it also sparks the formation of new brain cells. The takeaway message is obvious: if you want to be your best, you need to make exercise part of your regular routine. The best way to commit to this particular healthy habit is by finding an activity you love and by lining up an exercise buddy or two to enjoy it with you. Exercise time becomes social time—and you motivate one another to stay on track.
Nutrition
Eating well helps to minimize mood swings (by keeping your blood sugar stable) and it provides your body and brain with the high quality fuel it needs. The good news is that it’s easy to make healthy food choices on campus. Here’s what you need to know.
Fun
Everyone deserves time off for good behavior—and research shows that the time you spend having fun is actually good for your brain. Play (which can mean everything from challenging a friend to a game of foosball or ping pong to cozying up on the couch with a ball of wool and a set of knitting needles to signing up for a club or special event) is about hitting the pause button temporarily. When you crack open the books again, you’ll benefit from renewed concentration and focus. Finding it difficult to give yourself permission to take a break? Too stressed to have fun? Maybe we can help.
Did You Know?
Feeling connected to the campus contributes to student success. A student who feels connected to the campus community is happier, less stressed, and more likely to thrive academically. Luckily, there are all kinds of different ways your student can get involved in campus life—everything from joining a club or a sports team to connecting with their academic course union to participating in one of the many events organized through their college, the Trent Central Student Association, or the Trent Durham Student Association. Encourage your student to explore their options, to get involved, and to keep track of everything they are learning via Trent’s Co-Curricular Record—a key asset come job-search time!
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