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HUMAN SKILLS
It's a proven fact that exercise gives us endorphins, which are like teeny, tiny happy pills that go straight to our brains. Essentially, and using a little extended logic, we could say that exercise makes us happy. So maybe Pharrell really, really likes a good cardio day? On top of that, and perhaps more interestingly, exercise also makes us smarter. Yep, smarter. We'll take all the smarts we can get around here, so exercise it is.
This just wouldn't be a lesson on wellness without a nod to diet, though, so we've got one of those coming up. Fun fact: food affects your brain, too. Honestly, everything affects the brain. Ever heard the phrase "garbage in, garbage out"? Yeah. It's kind of like that.
We assume his essays are terrible. (Source)
READING: WORK IT
We're all busy around here, what with all of this school business going on. If we're already worried about having enough hours in the day to squeeze in school, homework, and sleep, it's not likely we have tons of leisure time to sweat to the oldies, as mesmerizing as Richard Simmons' sequins are, so lay off, okay?!?
Let's be clear: if I only have time for sleep or exercise, I'm going with sleep. I can go a day without exercise, but a day without sleep is not a day I want to think about. I'm actually shuddering right now at the memory of my last all-nighter.
But on the rare occasion that we have an extra 20 minutes, exercise is a great way to spend it. Here's why: exercise increases the oxygen flow to the brain, and the more oxygen the brain gets, the better it functions. Exercise actually makes us smarter. When the oxygen gets flowing, we feel more clear-headed, and things like brainstorming and analysis come more easily. In fact, many of the world's best ideas have been the result of a brisk jog. (I presume.) It may be that we don't care so much or have the time for spending hours a day on rippling deltoids, but even from an academic standpoint, finding the time for exercise is totally worth it.
The recent news that sedentary lifestyles—like that of students who spend much of their time at a desk of some kind—is not the best move health-wise wasn't too shocking to any of us. Who likes to spend a day sitting like a lump at various desks? Was this the original human condition? Nope. It's not natural! It's not right! It's time for a revolution!
Okay, so that's extreme. Schools probably aren't going to start springing for expensive standing desk stations any time soon, though, so it's up to us to work in the brain-boosting benefits of exercise on our own.
DIY treadmill desk: Consider a gym pass or other access to a treadmill and prop your study books up to read while you walk. Also good: our fave, the recumbent bike.
DIY standing desk: Switch up the desk routine and work from a kitchen counter or other tall surface for a few minutes every hour.
Swap the desk chair for one of those inflatable stability balls, which require you to work your core muscles as you sit.
Record your notes as an MP3, or look for an audiobook version of the book you're reading in English class and listen as you take a run around the block. The boosted oxygen also aids memory retention.
For brainstorming or the tough thinking sessions involved with planning a paper or a project, get up and do a few dumbbell reps or squats as you ponder over your options.
Marathon essay writing? Try the Pomodoro Technique, where you break up work into 25-minute sessions with 5-minute breaks, and then use the break to get your heart rate up. Bonus: this also increases stamina and keep you working harder for longer.
As always, plan ahead. Schedule in workouts or gym time to your week in advance and use an accountability buddy or fitness tracker gizmo to help you stay on track.
Embrace YouTube. You can find a ton of free, quick workouts on Youtube or a site like FitnessBlender, and many of them don't require any equipment at all. Isn't free the best? Woot.
Good Nutrition: Not Just for Hippies
Good Nutrition: Not Just for Hippies
While we could debate the merits of the Doritos Locos Taco all day, there's no debate that what we eat also affects our brain health. Read this article from Healthy Brain for Life to see what, exactly, our brains most need from diet. Hint: It involves neither a juice cleanse nor any item served at a Taco Bell. Sad.
At this point, we may be mentally considering what we've eaten at the last few meals, and it's likely that we're having such thoughts as "That can of ravioli for breakfast was maybe not the best idea." True story! But at least we ate breakfast? It is, after all, still the most important meal of the day.
But in addition to getting in the way of gym time, busy schedules often put the kibosh on healthy eating. Even when we do have the time to eat something decent, stress eating is a real thing. It's called "comfort food" for a reason, you know. Even with hectic schedules, we can still do a few small things to improve eating habits, most of which involve planning ahead. (Are you sensing a theme?)
Pack some brain food snacks to prevent hitting the vending machine after school.
Stock the freezer with healthy breakfast burritos.
Abide by the salad rule: one meal a day has to be a salad of some kind. Creative license allowed, but burgers are definitely not salads.
Now, check out these other tips Entrepreneur has about healthy eating habits and consider which ones you could try in your own life.
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