Protip #2: Staying Focused
I think we can all agree that college is going to be a stressful, sleep-depriving time for us all. You will eventually find yourself dozing off in the morning or afternoon, and that's never a good thing when you need to focus on your studies and classes, so here are some tips for keeping yourself awake and alert during the day.
1. Make sure you've eaten recently. While you may think that you're not hungry or that you can get away with skipping a meal, the fact is you will not be at your best if your stomach is empty. You'll notice your focus begin to wane, your eyelids will feel heavy, and your vision may blur. These things can happen without you even noticing, be vigilant and keep yourself fed, even if it's with something as small as a couple carrots or a stack of crackers every twenty minutes. In the cut-throat world of college, healthy snacks are your friends.
2. Exercise whenever possible. I get it: classes are kicking your butt and you don't have time for running 6 miles a day. The good news is that you don't need to do a lot of exercising for it to keep you awake. Something as easy as a brisk walk or jog around your dorm building every hour or two to get your heart pumping can make a big difference, especially when you're working on a project or studying for hours on end.
[Fun fact: One of my friends would wear her workout clothes when she studied in the library so she could jump up at any time during her studying to take a breather and refresh her mind as she ran around the building a few times.]
3. STAY HYDRATED. Don't go anywhere without a water bottle full of water that you are willing to drink, because you never know when your mouth will suddenly turn into the Gobi Desert and end your concentration forever. Also, aside from keeping you focused, staying hydrated has a ton of other health benefits like greater emotional stability (that's a good one), healthier skin, and heightened metabolism, so you get to look hotter while getting better grades. It's a win-win.
4. Avoid sugary foods and drinks. Yes, they taste awesome and they're cheaper than their healthier alternatives, but sugar is not something you want to be consuming in excess while you're getting your degree. Sugar dehydrates you, which, as previously stated, is distracting and hurts your focus. In addition, sugar acts as caffeine in the sense that people tend to become hyperactive and focus less in general after eating sugar. But if you simply can't live without your sugary snacks, then at least cut out or decrease your consumption of sugary drinks, since these are probably the worst offenders of dehydration and sugary excess in existence.