Kirkwood students’ lives are busier than ever. Most of us have a lot on our plates—classes, jobs, extra-curricular activities, and even personal or family issues.
Studying for exams and writing papers are additional tasks that add to our long list of tasks to do in a day. When we’re overwhelmed, we often forget to take care of ourselves. Either we’re simply forgetting, or we feel as if there’s not enough time in the day. But, taking care of yourself is vital for your health.
College class and exams won’t last your entire life, but the strain put on your body just might. Remembering to take care of both your mind and body is not only beneficial for your health, but may actually help you pass that midterm you’re worried about.
But how should we take care of ourselves? Practicing mindful meditation, exercising and taking frequent breaks while studying are all ways you can maintain a healthy work-life balance and stay on track in your classes.
A study published in the April 2018 issue of “Psychiatry Research” attributes stress and anxiety to a lack of focus. One way the study recommends to limit these factors is through practicing mindfulness meditation. Being mindful means to be aware of all that is around us without interpreting or judging. In other words, take time out of your day to just ‘be’.
Start by finding a quiet room, sitting or laying down in a comfortable position and focusing on your breathing. Let your thoughts pass freely through your mind. Don’t try to shoo them away but don’t try to engage, either. Just observe them, and let them pass.
You can also try guided mindfulness meditations on YouTube—most of these only take about 10-15 minutes.
According to Mayo Clinic, meditation is also effective treatment for pain, depression and insomnia, and is even linked directly to improving attention as well. Exercising your mind not only has health benefits but also improves your focus while you’re studying for those difficult tests. What more of a reason is there to take care of your mind?
You should be exercising your body as well. It may feel like there’s not enough time to drive all the way to a gym for some vigorous training. However, exercising your body isn’t limited to just running on a treadmill or lifting weights for 45 minutes. Going outside to take a quick walk can do wonders for both your mental and physical health.
There are even places on campus to walk or exercise if you need to take a quick break from studying. The track surrounding our baseball and softball fields are a great place for students to walk on. There are sidewalks all around campus as well, and the Rec Center is available for free to all Kirkwood students. The Rec Center has equipment, space for walking, and even offers yoga classes.
We all know that exercise is good for us, it’s been drilled into our brains since we were kids. Even just going outside and getting some sun or fresh air for a few minutes can noticeably improve your mood.
According to Medline, exercise releases chemicals from our bodies that can help us manage stress, reduce anxiety and decrease our risk for depression. It stimulates our brains and improves brain function, which is important when we’re trying to cram for an exam.
It may feel counter-intuitive to take breaks while studying, but studies show that concentration and focus increases when you take frequent, small breaks.
According to Harvard Medical School, peak attention time can range anywhere from 10 minutes to 52 minutes, depending on the person. After this peak attention time is exhausted, a person experiences cognitive fatigue.
There are many methods you can use to manage time between taking breaks and studying. The Pomodoro technique is a common method used in which a person studies for 25 minutes, then takes a five minute break. After four cycles, take a longer break between 15 and 30 minutes.
Other specialists recommend taking a 10 – 30-minute nap if your mind needs a break. Even just 10 minutes can refresh your brain and help you retain more information.
Remember to take care of yourself during midterms and the rest of the semester, because not only will you feel better, you’ll probably perform better on your exams, too.
Categories: Opinion, Staff Editorials
