Will Horn, Intern Counselor, MSOE Counseling Services
January 2009
College life can be some of the most fun but also some of the most stressful times in a person's life. The hectic and demanding pace of this phase of life can often affect each student's health, and subsequently, their ability to achieve good grades. This month's newsletter focuses on the importance of student health as well as presenting a few tips for improving your grades.
What does the research say?
A recent study at the University of Minnesota involving over 10,000 students found a distinct connection between academic success and student health. Researchers found that a healthy lifestyle was paramount, even when students may feel that they are in the prime of their lives.
What affects grades the most?
The study concluded that what affects grades the most are:
- Lots of stress: Students who reported a minimum of eight sources of emotional stress possessed an average GPA nearly .6 lower than those who did not.
- Excessive screen time: Whether it be the television, videogames, or computer time, students who reported spending four or more hours in front of a screen had an average GPA over .25 points lower than students who spent an hour a day in front of a screen.
- Binge drinking: Students who drank excessively at least once in the previous two weeks had, on average, a GPA nearly .3 lower than those who did not.
- Gambling: Student debt and financial problems served as a common and detrimental stressor on the participants.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle does not solely pertain to the classroom, but involves every realm of life. Focusing on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and establishing good habits may not only improve grades, but may also help reduce your chances of becoming un-healthy or getting sick during college. College Tips, a website focused on informing students in different areas of college life, lists a number of recommendations for maintaining a healthy lifestyle:
- Eat Healthy Foods: Setting good eating habits from day one on can help avoid the dreaded "freshman 15" weight gain as well as eating disorders. It is important that students understand which foods to eat regularly and what foods to eat in moderation. Many students also fail to consume enough fruits and vegetables in their diet. Drinks such as V8 splash can help supplement this deficiency.
- Exercise: Exercising is important for a variety of reasons: it improves both overall health and confidence. It can also reduce stress resulting from anything from tests and grades to parents, relationships or financial situations. An advantage towards being a college student is that there are usually free facilities to exercise in. In this case, the Kern Center.
- Sleep: Concentrating and retaining information can become much harder to do on an inadequate amount of sleep. Despite their prevalence, "all-nighters" are not the most efficient way to study in college. It is important to strive towards maintaining a regular sleep cycle, and not sleeping more to make up for less sleep the previous night.
- Reward Yourself: Rewarding yourself appropriately for accomplishments is important. For example, treat yourself to something unhealthy to eat after having eaten healthy for a month. The importance is to reward yourself in both appropriate ways as well as in moderation.
- Abstain from Unhealthy Habits: Abstain from excessive alcohol intake, drugs, and over-eating. Reducing smoking can help increase daily stamina, whiten teeth, and reduce your chance of becoming sick.
- Find a Healthy Friend: Sometimes finding a partner to hold you accountable to better eating, exercising and daily routines can help you stay on track. Accountability can help the both of you develop healthy habits.
For more information regarding a health lifestyle, check out on the Counseling Services webpage: http://inside.msoe.edu/counseling.
- For more tips on how to stay healthy during college, check out the College Tips website.
- If you have questions or would like to talk more about healthy lifestyles, you can make an appointment to see a counselor or health services. Call Counseling Services at (414) 277-7590, Health Services at (414) 277-7590, or stop by our office located on the 2nd floor of the Kern Center.
MSOE Counseling Services creates monthly newsletters on mental health concerns and psychological issues. You can view the complete list of downloadable Counseling Services Newsletters.
MSOE Counseling Services is located on the second floor of the Kern Center (K-230). To schedule an appointment with a counselor, call (414) 277-7590 or visit the Counseling Services homepage.