Health & Wellness
This meal should be the largest of the day.
What is breakfast?
~Eating a healthy diet can help boost students’ immune systems, help students to maintain a healthy weight and can improve their overall health. Sometimes it may seem difficult to eat healthy in college when your meal choices consist of the cafeteria or fast food restaurants, but there are easy ways to make adjustments in your eating habits. First, always eat breakfast. This may be difficult when you’re rushing out the door to get to that 8 a.m. classes, but grabbing a granola bar or banana goes a long way in keeping you from overeating throughout the day. Also, never skip meals.~
Using this outside of class time opportunity can build your relationship with your professor.
What are office hours?
~Going to office hours is the perfect opportunity to build a relationship with your professor. Through this, they will see you as more than just another student in their classroom and may be more likely to help you at the end of the semester should you need a grade boost or letter of recommendation.~
Doing this during your first semester of college is a great way to make friends and make connections.
What is get involved?
~Student life on campus has plenty to offer. Try out as many clubs as you can. Feel no obligation to them if you don’t like them. College is about finding out what you love to do. If you have to choose between a double major and getting involved on campus, get involved. All the knowledge in the world won’t help you if you come out of college with no experience or professional relationships.~
Connecting with this center can provide you with a valuable resource for resume and cover letter feedback and preparation for future career endeavors.
What is the Career Center?
~Connect with your school’s career center; your career advisor will be an invaluable resource in the years to come.~
Writing in this daily/weekly can release stress, help with attaining goals and keeping track of progress.
What is a journal?
~Keep a journal if you can. It’s great to be able to go back and see how you’ve progressed over the years.~
This releases endorphins, reduces stress, and is good for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
What is exercise?
~Fitting exercise into a busy college schedule can be difficult, but most college campuses make it easy for students to get exercise. One of the easiest ways to get exercise is to walk to class. Depending on your class schedule, this could add anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour of exercise every day. Most colleges offer physical fitness classes and intramural sports programs, so take advantage of these for a fun way to get exercise. Also, most colleges offer free or reduced memberships to gyms. This is definitely a perk that ends after graduation, so take advantage of this now.~
The correlation between this in-class habit and good study habits is unmatched.
What is taking good notes?
~The correlation between good notes and good study habits is undeniable. However, taking good notes doesn’t come naturally to everyone. The trick is to record the key points of the lecture or textbook without writing down too much extraneous info. Many students also record lectures so they can listen to them later to verify their notes; just make sure you get permission from your professor first!~
These jobs are an opportunity to make new friends, meet new people – and make a little extra spending money to use on seeing a movie, grabbing a bite to eat, or taking a trip with your newfound friends!
What is a student job?
~It may seem a little counter-intuitive, but getting a student job is a great way to boost your social life in college. Many colleges offer on-campus employment opportunities in the dining hall, library and other campus buildings. If you can’t find a part-time job that relates to your major, look for a “warm-body” job – one that allows you to do homework while working. Some examples would be working at the desk of the library or the athletic center.~
You need this for job interviews.
What is a resume?
~Create a resume if you don’t already have one, and have it critiqued by someone who knows what they’re doing (Career Center). You can also create your own personal website to show off your work.~
These techniques can help with stress-relief and building self-awareness.
What are meditation and relaxation techniques?
~You can practice meditation and relaxation techniques by finding a quiet space to take deep breaths in a relaxed position. Always remember to turn off your electronic devices to decrease distractions. Other forms of relaxation are listening to soothing music, religious rituals and reading. You can go on websites like Youtube to find guided meditation exercises.~
In order to avoid sleep deprivation which leads to reduced brain function, fatigue, headaches and weight loss or gain, the average college student needs this many hours of sleep.
What is 7-9 hours?
~Though you may be tempted to pull an all-nighter to study for an exam or stay out until 3 a.m. partying with friends, make sure you don’t make that a habit. To stay rested throughout the day, try taking a short nap during the day, try to stick to a schedule, try to keep your room dark and quiet before bedtime and avoid drinking caffeine, eating and drinking right before bed.
Through keeping a detailed calendar with all your commitments, including classwork, social events and extracurricular activities, you can accomplish this.
What is staying organized?
~Organizing your class materials is also one of the most important study tips for college students. Use sticky notes to remember important textbook pages, keep your returned assignments, and make flashcards for key terms. You’ll thank yourself come exam time!~
Getting to know them can be helpful in introducing you to a whole new group of people and provide opportunities for study groups.
What are classmates?
~This one’s definitely a good idea for practical reasons—you have someone to get notes from if you need to take a sick day; you have a go-to group member for group projects; and, for the big final, you have a study buddy. You're given a whole new group of people that you wouldn't have necessarily known otherwise. Not to mention that it may make class a little less boring.~
When applying for a job or internship, you can get these from professors, administrators, mentors, etc.
What are Letters of Recommendation?
~When asking for a Letter of Recommendation, be sure to provide information as to what you are applying for and if the person you are asking will write you a good letter. You should aim to get an internship the summer after your sophomore year. You’ll forge professional connections early on and make it easier to get another internship the next summer. Graduating with two under your belt will give you a real leg up on the competition.~
Setting these can assist in staying motivated and reaching your aspirations.
What are realistic goals?
~Set short-term and long-term goals for yourself. You can write out your goals and place them in an area where you can see it daily to stay motivated. Remember the S.M.A.R.T. goals formula: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Timely and Realistic when creating your goals. Don’t forget to reward yourself when accomplishing your goals. Download the app STRIDES to track your goals and habit.~
College students are always in close contact with others: through classes, living situations with roommates, walking around campus, and it is very easy to catch colds or viruses. Studies have shown that doing this can help prevent a large number of illnesses.
What is washing your hands and getting a flu shot?
~Studies have shown that simple hand-washing can help prevent a large number of illnesses. Wash your hands before meals, any time you will be touching your eyes, nose or mouth, or if you’ve been around others who are sick. This is one of the easiest ways to avoid the flu and stay healthy through the winter. Many colleges offer flu shots and screenings for reduced prices, usually under $25. Though it may still be expensive for those on a tight budget, getting a shot now will be much better and cheaper in the long run than getting the flu later. ~
By doing this every hour throughout your studying, you can stay energized and at peak mental condition.
What is taking a break?
~Take a ten-minute break every hour or so, and try to take a day or two off per week if you can. Given how easy it is to become overwhelmed in college, this is probably the most important of our study tips for college students.~
Having these in can prevent people from approaching you.
What are earbuds/headphones?
~It's probably easier said than done, but there are so many things you could miss from looking down at your cell phone or jamming out to your MP3 player. If you’re lounging on the quad and scrolling through Facebook, there could be a pickup ultimate Frisbee game going on nearby that you could get in on. Or, someone could strike up a conversation with you on your way to class and you wouldn’t even know it.
If you want to be approachable, try to take your earbuds out every once in a while and just enjoy the here and now.~
What is mentorship?
~Through branching out and building relationships, both professional and personal, with established people in your life, you can gain crucial skills for obtaining a job or internship opportunity. They also serve as opportunities for expanding your network, getting advice, and gaining insight to your professional interests!~
Building these with other people can help with your mental health and recharging.
What are supportive relationships?
~Having supportive relationships tends to be better for your mental health. Aside from spending time with your family and friends, get involved in campus organizations of your choice. Although you’re attending college to pursue a college degree, set aside time to have a social life. It will help you recharge!~
Drinking this can help your concentration and keep you from overeating. It also replenishes your body and gives you more energy throughout the day. Though these beverages can be beneficial when studying or doing late-night homework, they are ultimately harmful in the long run.
What is drinking water and avoiding caffeine and sugary drinks?
~Always choose water instead of soda, and bring water with you while you walk to class. Also, to cut down on the cost, buy a water filtration pitcher and a re-usable water bottle instead of plastic bottled water. The combination of caffeine and sugar in soda and energy drinks causes you to crash and feel bad later. If you need an energy boost, try eating foods high-protein, high-fiber foods.~
Doing one of these two in preparation for an exam can have the opposite of a positive impact on how well you do.
What is over-studying and/or cramming?
~Time management is one of the most essential aspects of college. Make sure you’re studying the key ideas of each lecture or textbook chapter, and avoid absorbing useless information. If you’re not sure, meet with your professor to make sure you’re practicing good study habits. It’s definitely tempting to put off your studying until the last minute, but you’re much less likely to retain information this way. Good study habits come from pacing yourself. Try to study a little bit each day, rather than saving it all for the week before the exam. This will help you ward off exhaustion and remember what you learned.~
Keeping this open on your residence hall floor can help you make friends.
What is your door?
~During your first semester of college, you want to make as many friends as possible, especially with people living on the same floor as you. And it’s easier than you think. All you have to do is keep your door open, literally! Keeping your dorm room door open is an invitation for people passing by to pop their heads in and introduce themselves. And while sometimes you need a little privacy, there’s no better way to make friends than to appear interested in doing so.~
Taking this class can be helpful in your personal and professional endeavors as communication is key.
What is a public speaking class?
~Take a speech class, even if you don’t have to. Communication skills are among the more important things recruiters look for in students. This can help a great deal with confidence!~
Assuring that your meals are nutritious can help with this.
What is overall health and wellness?
~Eating healthy and balanced meals and following a nutritious food plan, will give your body the natural vitamins and nutrients it needs to thrive. As a college student, you should incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your daily intake. Things to do: Eat breakfast daily, take multivitamins, drink 6-8 glasses of water and pack snacks for those long hours in the library and lab. Things to avoid: fried foods, refined sugar, alcohol and caffeine.~