Power or no power?! That seems to be the golden question. Well, if you are reading this that means you have power where you are so WAHOO! Cause it would be horrible to be out of power and miss this lovely blog that I am writing. I luckily live on campus where there are generators so I was only withour power for 30 seconds (: Which was just long enough to laugh that the power went out due to a snow storm in October and to get scared of being alone in the dark (I don’t like big storms). And on the bright side, we were not the worst hit area! My sister’s colleg in Conneticut got evacuated for the whole week!! But thankfully all the power is suppose to be back on soon!
It’s that time of the year when all we want to do is wrap up in a blanket, drink hot chocolate with marshmellows, and watch a movie. There is no more motivation to get outside, be active, or eat healthy. But those three things aren’t just good for your mind, body, and health; they can also improve your grades! I bet you never knew that!
High cardio workouts create new brain cells which means studying right after a run will help you retain how to do that Physics homework or that Anatomy reading. Working out has a bad rep saying it tires you out but in reality, working out releases chemicals and hormones that keeps you awake and feeling ready to do anything! Working out is the best in the morning because it wakes you up, gets your body moving, keeps you focused and makes to brain cells to be filled with information in class.
Eating healthy also can have a huge impact on how you do in class. Certain foods can keep you focused in class so your mind isn’t wondering. Try almonds, raisins, tuna or any fish with high omega-3 levels, sunflower seeds, watermelon, peanut butter, and dark chocolate (there are a ton more too!). Try eating a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack so you aren’t thinking about food in class. And eating snacks helps you avoid over eating at other meals. In your main meals of the day try to have a large portion of a vegetable or fruit, a medium size portion of protein, and a small amount of fat or carbs. This balanced meal will keep you feeling full longer. Avoid drinking to much coffee, although it can help you get through that 8am Physics Lecture or an all night study session, when consumed in large amounts it can leave you jittery and unfocused. Another helpful tip is drink lots of water! I know you hear is all the time but not having enough water can lead to dehyrdration, drowsiness, and lack of concentration. Try getting an eco-friendly reusable water bottle and taking it every where so you can refill it everytime you want something to drink.
Have an exam coming up?! Try my Exam Get Ready Routine! The day before hit the gym for 35 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes of weights. Follow it with a protein packed snack (Balance Bars are my favorite) and a trip to the library. The morning of the exam, eat breakfast! It’s scientificly proven those who eat before an exam do better. I always have an apple with peanut butter before every single exam I take, it’s kind of my good luck charm.
I hope this helps you have successful and health semester!
-Meg