9 Tips For Staying In Shape While Hitting The Books

All students face the exam-monster… the stress, the lack of time for yourself and others, the absence of a social life and even worse… the exam weight. Sitting at your desk all day can have its benefits for your studies, but not so much for your physical activity levels. As we head into exam-season, we take a look at tips for staying in shape while hitting the books:

1. Put together a schedule
By compiling a balanced study schedule, you can ensure that you allocate sufficient time for your studies, time for exercise and sleep.

2. Take regular study breaks 
Study breaks are a good way to get up from your desk. Take a walk to the kitchen to get a fresh glass of water. This will help with your blood flow, making sure your brain gets a fresh burst of oxygen and you get to stretch your legs.

3. Plan a study group
Touching base with other students is not just good for your studies, but also gets you off your chair. A study group is a place for you to debate concepts, ask questions and help each other study. Besides working together, students in study groups can generally learn faster than students working alone!

4. Get out of the house
Choose a study location away from home, forcing you to shower, change and get out of your house. 

5. Walk or cycle
When you leave the house to study in the library or to meet your study group, choose to walk or cycle. The additional physical exercise will do you wonders!

6. Balance
Replace your desk chair with a Pilates balance ball. This will ensure that you maintain good posture and work your core balance at the same time!

7. Don’t ditch exercise
It is so easy to ditch exercise when you are tired. Sleep often wins the debate and then you limit your physical activity even more. Try and keep yourself motivated to get moving! You can always get a gym partner or join a team to ensure that you have one more reason to get out there!

8. Small, regular meals
Keep an eye on your meals. The type of food you put into your body has a lot to do with what you get out. Avoid large meals and stick to smaller and more regular meals that will ensure that you get all the vitamins and minerals that you need.

9. Healthy snacking
It is easy to snack while studying and because exam times are stressful and you generally do not have much time, you might find yourself quickly grabbing a snack from the vending machine. If you are studying out of home, plan your day, pack healthy snacks like fruit and nuts and avoid the dreaded convenience of the vending machine.

Every little bit helps! So whether you choose to take the stairs opposed to the lift, make a point of taking a walk during your study break or whether you stay committed to your soccer team while you are studying, keep in mind that exercise is great for your studies too!

Eating Healthy While Studying – Why What You Put In, Affects What You Get Out

We often remind you that good study habits are key to success in school, college and university. A healthy diet supports your studies by helping you concentrate.

Did you know that you can improve your academic potential by eating certain foods and following particular eating patterns for their brain-boosting benefits?

Meeting your daily vitamin and mineral requirements will make doing your best much easier. Iron and B vitamins are especially important to maintaining the physical and mental energy necessary to concentrate. Keep an eye on your diet and ensure that you include all 5 food groups in your diet:

• Grains
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Dairy
• Protein

Eating regular meals keeps nutrient and energy levels more stable, limiting the temptation of snacks that you might find in the vending machine. Eating three big meals a day slows you down mentally and physically and can also make you drowsy. Rather have 5 or 6 well-balanced, smaller meals, to sustain your energy levels.

By snacking while studying you may find that you remember more of the information that you studied. Here is a list of snacks that you can consider:

• Peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread – This simple sandwich provides protein, whole grains, and healthy fats.
• Piece of whole fruit – We suggest eating an apple or banana as the healthiest option, but there are so many others including oranges, grapes, strawberries and pears.
• Carrots and hummus – That crunch is oh so satisfying!  Other veggies like bell peppers and cucumber slices are great with hummus too.
• Cheese and cherry tomatoes - Cheese can be a good source of calcium, protein, and other important nutrients.

Finally, you should keep hydrated. Keep a glass of water at your desk to help maintain your energy. Take regular sips and get up from your desk to fill you glass to take a break from your studies.

By taking care of what is going into your body, you can make sure that you are one step closer to successfully studying and retaining the information!