Humbert's Best Piece of Advice

I always grew up learning that you have to be decisive and take your opportunities when you can. They are never handed to you. Upon arriving to college, this thought had never resonated with me more. Being given the chance to attend a university is a privilege not many are allowed. Inside of the classroom, working hard could have huge implications for self-growth and knowledge. Outside of the classroom, networking with professionals and teachers, joining clubs, and meeting new people can help broaden your horizons in terms of what interests you. But these are, unfortunately, opportunities wasted by some who view college as a four-year vacation. It is an investment, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you did not make the most of every chance you had. You have to go after it; these rewards aren't going to be reaped sitting back and waiting. Utilizing the plethora of resources at school could literally change your life.


-Humbert

Tre's Best Piece of Advice

Before coming to college I received advice and tips from family and friends to steer me onto the right path during my journey.  These tips have been like tools that I use during the difficult times here at college.  The best advice that I have personally received is to study consistently and not only in large increments at the last minute.  Studying at the last minute not only causes stress on the brain, but also is somewhat futile.  When studying at the last minute, the student is therefore putting the knowledge garnered in short term memory only for it to be used for a short period of time.  However, the knowledge earned in college should be knowledge that the student should cherish and take along with them forever.  Not only may it be used in their future career, but it is part of a foundation that they are building for themselves.  Studying consistently mentally helps one to embed the knowledge into their memory.  This is also healthy for the student’s mental health because it causes less stress than cramming.

-Tre

Micah's Best Piece of Advice

The best advice I personally received before leaving for college is definitely to try new things— at college, we’re basically paying to live together with a few thousand other diverse and talented young adults, learning from professors about a huge variety of subjects. There are so many opportunities, and it would be a shame to stick what you know or what you’re good at. It’s true that our goal is to get degrees in just one or two topics in a few years, but thanks to GERs, we still have a good reason to explore areas we previously knew nothing about. Keep your mind open to things that you have never learned before. Spend some time with the course atlas— you never know what you might find.

-Micah

Ulri's Best Piece of Advice

With the anxiety of moving to college, I received a lot of amazing advice from those who had already experienced what I was about to go through. The most helpful piece of advice I received came from my mom who told me, "it's your freshman year, have fun and enjoy yourself. Don't get too caught up in getting perfect grades because if you stress yourself out, you won't perform well". This piece of advice has been so helpful because for most of my high school career I had the idea that I needed to be the best at everything and I left little time for my friends. I constantly compared myself to other students which mentally gave me low self-confidence. Low self esteem is harmful to the body because it can actually weaken the immune system. I've learned to just do my best and work hard because that's all I can ask of myself.

-Ulri

How to Maintain a Healthy Sleep Pattern

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Adequate sleep is an integral part of maintaining high academic capabilities while at college. Here are some tips to maximize your wellness in this area:

1. Get enough of it! Increased sleep has been linked to various studies suggesting improved overall academic performance.

2. Know you range – most college students sleep significantly than is necessary for them to perform at their optimal level. Look up the recommended hours of sleep you need nightly and strive to get as close to this as possible.

3. Minimize naps in terms of both frequency and length of time. In addition, keep them before the late afternoon. All of these will help instill better sleep habits and patterns to keep you alert and refreshed throughout the day, while soundly asleep at night.

4. Don’t fall asleep in front of the computer or any bright screen. The blue light from electronics suppresses normal melatonin release, a hormone that allows you to fall asleep. In addition, you brain in constantly stimulated by paying attention to content of the screen, making it more difficult to fall into a deep, restful sleep.

-Humbert

Mid-Term Study Tips

Let’s say midterms are coming up— college midterms. The best plan would probably be to worry about them until the day before, then pull an all-nighter in an impressive but ultimately futile effort to succeed. Is this not the pinnacle of wisdom? No, but some people clearly think it is. Here are some tips from one student to another on how to study for a midterm:

1. Pay attention in class: if you’re going to show up, you might as well listen to the professor while you’re at it. This can be phrased thus: study when you’re supposed to study so you can sleep when you’re supposed to sleep. Listening in class can make studying later easier, and professors often talk about material that will be on the exam.
2. Set aside a time to study at least every week. This time should probably not be “Thursday” or “sometime near the end of the week” or definitely not “whenever I have free time”. Ha! No one has free time, mortals. Try 1:58 on Friday afternoon, or a similarly specific time. It also can help if you have another person or persons to study with or just to keep you accountable.
3. Try to understand how things work. This might be an obvious hint, but just try to know the things that are being tested. Again, listening and talking to the professor can be helpful.
4. Try to get good sleep the night before the midterm. If you’ve been listening in class and studying once a week and understanding the material, cramming shouldn’t really be necessary. If you don’t understand anything, cram a few important things, but don’t try to learn everything lest you forget everything when the test papers are handed out.
5. Have a ceremony that prepares you to take a test. I personally eat a bowl of oats and do some hand stretches. Find what gets you in the test-taking mood. Combine all these steps and you might just succeed. If not, simply consult another Health 100 blog— they’re around in good supply.

-Micah

Study Break Ideas

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Study breaks, post midterm, and finals’ celebration periods are the time intervals where the brain has some leverage from all of the intense work that accompanies the component (test, midterm, final).  This is a necessity because with all intense workouts, there is always a good relaxation period to compensate.  This is influential to mental health because it helps give this balance.  It allows the brain to relax and become stronger like a muscle after it has had a good workout.  The restoration period makes it stronger.  During these periods, the individual should do things that bring them happiness and makes them feel comfortable.  They should do things to reward their diligence and arduous accomplishments.

-Tre

Dress Well, Test Well

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Imagine it's the night before a big test and the anxiety is starting to settle. You're not sure if you studied enough and you're not feeling so confident, but there's no time left to study. This stress can lead to poor performance during your test and leave you disappointed with your results. Here's a tip to boost your confidence: dress well, test well! It's amazing what a great outfit can do for your confidence. Personally, when I put on a brand new dress, or take the extra little effort to curl my hair, my confidence increases. This can ease the stress from taking a test, and make you feel more confident about your abilities to take a test. More importantly, wear what makes YOU feel confident, not what a magazine says will make you look good. Mentally, the brain is affected by the ups and downs of your emotions. That being said, it's bad for your mental health to have negative thoughts flooding your brain; it is best to inhale positive thoughts and exhale negative thoughts. If you keep thinking negative thoughts, your brain will trick itself into actually believe them. Just be positive and confident!

-Ulri

How to be an Engaged Student

In order to engage, you need to connect with the material you’re learning. It helps to enjoy the topic that you’re studying, but you can probably find a connection to something you love even in an uninteresting class. For example, if you like geography and are in a not-quite-engaging history class, you could try to focus on how geography influenced the history you’re studying. As you begin to link together the things you’re learning, ask questions and look for answers. Talk to your professors about these connections. It’s an incredibly engaging way to learn, but in the end, you’ll probably discover that you have a good grade to show for it as well. You'll perform much better if you play to your strengths rather than try to be good at everything.

-Micah

How to Destress

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Stress is a necessary but often overwhelming part of our everyday lives. What was once developed solely as a survival mechanism has taken on a new, dangerous, and self-tormenting role physically, mentally and emotionally. With the rigors of college, it is unavoidable; yet not unmanageable. Here are some tips to help. First, don’t over stress, and don’t allow your stress to multiply by what you are already stressed about. Stress triggers the “fight or flight” response that, while useful in situations that are life or death, now triggers an essentially useless immune response that, in fact, attacks whomever is stressing. Thus, over-stressing can have majorly negative implications for one’s health. Second, as stated above, is getting the proper amount of sleep to let your brain rest and re-energize for the coming day. Lastly, getting daily exercise, anywhere from moderate to vigorous, can be extremely beneficial to one’s health. It combats the commonly associated negative illnesses characteristic of stress overload, such as heart disease and diabetes, among others.

-Humbert

Beat the Freshman 15!

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Exercise in college is a good way to vent out stress and frustration.  In addition, living an active life also means living a healthy life. Therefore, exercise is crucial.  Being a college student makes it difficult to have time to work out any bodily parts except the brain.  However, when one works out, it actually gives them a boost of adrenaline and energy.  This is a good way to start out a stressful school day.  Research has shown that a balanced workout schedule actually enhances an individual’s concentration.  Therefore, it is a good commodity for one’s mental state.

-Tre

Healthy Eating

Many people think that because they're in college, they are limited to cafeteria food and fast food. However, with a little bit of effort, one can increase the variety in their diet. Some college campus food can be pretty healthy, but there are definitely also unhealthy options. Just because there are unhealthy options, does not mean you have to also eat unhealthy. Many schools offer shuttles to near by grocery stores so you can pick up nutritious snacks. Also, there are many tricks you can use in the cafeteria to make a healthy, but still delicious, meal!

This photo is something that every plate you eat at the cafeteria should emulate. Try to incorporate as many colors on your plate as possible. Eat lots of colorful veggies and fruit!

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*Here's a tip for those of you who aren't so keen on veggies. Make a fruit smoothie and incorporate a handful of spinach! I swear you can't even taste it! Spinach is super rich in iron, vitamin K, and vitamin A. You can pick up a single serve blender at Target, Walmart, and many other stores. I recommend the Hamilton Beach Single Serve Blender, it's compact so it'll fit in any dorm rooms and they come in a variety of colors!

click on the photo for more info on this model of blender

It is scientifically proven that vitamin rich food is beneficial for brain development. As college students, we are constantly learning and expending energy on our brain. To keep a balance life and sound mental health, we must keep our bodies in tip top shape with healthy eating. After all, you are what you eat.

-Ulri

How to Recover From a Bad Grade

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Whether it’s a test you studied 3 weeks for or a paper you forgot to write until the night before, getting a bad grade can be very discouraging. How do you find your way back to normality? Here’s some advice from one student to another:

1. Before you enter heavy mourning, see if there’s anything you can do to make your grade. This may be a slim chance, but check the syllabus for extra credit opportunities, or talk to your professor. Working to improve your grade can improve your mood surprisingly much.
2. Try not to dwell on the grade too much. Maybe escape into a movie or game for a while, or do whatever you do to relax.
3. If you want to do better on the next test or assignment, just take a little time to think how you’re going to do things differently and actually PUT THEM TO ACTION.

This isn’t a magic formula, but it just might help make your bad-grade-receiving day a little bit better.

-Micah

General Study Tips

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Amidst the tumult of life for a college freshman, studying can seem almost a small piece in a much larger, intricate puzzle. Whether it be meeting new people, trying ever-so-hard to avoid the dreaded “freshman 15,” or just simply getting acclimated to life in a new place, the school aspect of higher education can, oddly enough, seem secondary. Over my few months at Emory thus far, I feel I have a unique vantage point to advise current and incoming freshman on some ways to study smarter. First off, find a group of friends from class to tackle work in groups. This not only decreases your personal load, say for a project, but also allows you to talk out difficulties you’re having in class with your peers. They may be able to help explain challenging topics, as well as vice-versa; creating a mutually beneficial situation. Second, I would say before big tests or exams, try any practice questions you can find, either online on in your textbook. This tests your memorization, showing the facts you learned in a different form. It also gives you an idea of how the information will be presented to you on the real thing, letting you simultaneously familiarize yourself and be challenged by what you’ve studied. Third, and perhaps most important, is a nugget of wisdom I’ve taken directly from Health 101 this semester: get your sleep! Increased sleep correlates directly to increased academic performance.

-Humbert

Time Management, the Key to Success

Time management is a key component in the college experience.  This is important because it makes one’s life more organized and structured. Having an organized lifestyle makes things less stressful.  Methods to increase time management include making a schedule, making better use of every minute, and taking advantage of all the opportunities that they have in amount of time.  Better time management influences an individual’s mental health also.  When one manages their time well, it manifests a sense of confidence and makes a person more comfortable.  In addition, it diminishes the room for stress and frustration.

-Tre

How to Deal with Homesickness

Personally, moving 2,177 miles from Seattle to Atlanta was a BIG change. The first couple of weeks of college were definitely difficult for me. Arriving at college not knowing anybody, and knowing that many of my friends were going to the same university was very difficult. I missed my family and I felt like I was missing out on college with my friends back home.  However, I was able to over come my homesickness and enjoy my time in college with a few simple things.


1. Writing Letters- Call me old fashioned, but receiving a letter in the mail is way more exciting than receiving an email. I wrote to some of my best friends, and in return, they sent me a letter. This was an awesome way for me to get a simple pick me up if I was having a bad week.
2. Looking at the Big Picture- In retrospect, the little time i've had here at college has flown by and I'm sure the next couple of weeks leading up to break will fly by as well. With that said, look at the big picture because before you know it break will be a week away and you'll be able to see your family.
3. Distract Yourself- Whether it be submerging yourself in your school work, or planning small events with your friends, one of the best things to do can be to distract yourself! By not dwelling on the fact that you miss home, you'll spend more time being productive and enjoying yourself than sulking around.
4. PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES!- Before I left for college, I made sure that I packed pictures of my friends and family to give me motivation and make my dorm feel more like home.

Falling into a perpetual stage of sulking can be very detrimental to your mental health. In fact, there becomes a point where a person can be so depressed they create a hormone imbalance in their body which leads to more health issues.

Just remember, there's always winter break to look forward to! Before you know it you'll be reunited with you friends and family.

-Ulri

Don't Like Your Roommate? No Problem

One of the most illuminating and perhaps life-changing parts of the college experience is living with a roommate. For many people, this is the first time they have to cooperate and compromise with another, non-related person in close quarters. Oftentimes, unfortunately, this other person can be rude, uncaring, and on the whole a bad roommate. Here are some tips so you can salvage this relationship and work to better it.

1. Communication is key! Many people don’t realize how far talking out your problems can go with another person. Oftentimes, with the trials and tribulations of everyday life, a person can be oblivious to any harm they might be doing to another. This could open their eyes and change any of the habits you find irritating or detrimental to your living arrangement.

2. That being said…communication is a two-way street. Many people are so wrapped up in the pitfalls of their roommate they fail to look inward and realize they could be annoying their roommate as well, and this only creates a cycle. Any habits you have their irk your roommate, try your best to cut them out, and I promise you will see a happier, more amiable roommate in return.

3. Hopefully this mutual openness will solve most of if not all the problems you are experiencing. If not, there are plethora’s of people simply within your college dorm that can help create compromise. SA’s, RA’s, and the like are all available to act as unbiased mediators, and sometimes this impartial perspective can serve to clarify and help resolve the issues at hand. 

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-Humbert

Class Registration Tips and Tricks

It’s that time of year — registration. It’s a harrowing process that usually results in an unhealthy fear of blue squares. Here’s some advice from one student to another:

1. Have a backup plan ready. Actually, have multiple backup plans. If you’re counting on a select few classes being open when you enroll, you might be unpleasantly surprised if one or more of them fills up before you can get in.
2. Choose a variety of classes. Thanks to GERs, you can learn about a wide range of things and still be progressing on your path to a degree. Taking only math and science classes, for example, could make for a boring or stressful semester.
3. Add/Drop/Swap is possibly the best thing to happen since the internet itself was created. Check Opus at strange times to snag those green circles. With some work and a lot of luck, you can usually get a pretty good schedule, if not a perfect one.
4. Talk to people and get advice, whether it’s your faculty advisor or your roommate. It’s good to know about what’s going on.

-Micah

Tips on What to Bring to College

Preparing for college was both interesting and arduous at the same time.  The endeavor for the supplies and necessities essential for one’s lifestyle can become somewhat of a hassle.  This is especially true if these commodities were always given to a person by their parents.  As a college student, the student should bring everything that will make them feel comfortable and prepared once they are in college.  Being prepared develops a punctual mindset, which fuels confidence and readiness.  Packing for college in the correct manner develops these key aspects.  First, students should have major necessities.  Here are some of the major necessities every college student should need.

1. bed sheets
2. covers
3. clothes
4. bathing material (shower gel, rags, towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)

The student should include everything that they could not physically live without and that supports hygiene. Next, they should be sure to bring things that they feel that they want to bring that would not take up too much space.  This is because dorm rooms aren’t terribly big enough to hold everything.  In addition, the student should make sure to only buy things that they can afford.  Spending an indefinite amount of money is futile.  There will be more important things to buy such as books, food, and laundry necessities.  With these tips in mind, a student will find their endeavor less stressful.  This makes things easier on the mind and allows the student to prepare for the transition of college which is adjusting.

-Tre

Don't Know What to Major In? No Problem!

Many students come into college thinking that they know what they want to be after they graduate college, they end up taking classes for a certain major because they've always had a certain idea ingrained in their head. Other students come into college not having any idea what they want to do and thats ok! Why should someone, at the age of 18, have to decide what they want to be for the rest of their life? The answer: they shouldn't! If you're trying to figure out what to major in, stop worrying and start exploring! Your first two years in college are the prime time to take random classes that you know nothing about. Stressing out about what to major in won't help you, it can actually hurt you. If you feel so pressured to go in a certain direction academically and professionally, chances are you will end up unhappy with the job you have. Stress has many negative effects on the body, but one study shows that it can actually shrink the brain and lower our ability to cope. Life will figure itself out, just do what you love and you'll find your path.

-Ulri

Welcome !

Welcome to the best health blog on the net! This blog is run by Humbert, Tre, Micah, and myself, Ulri. Together, we will be posting tips and tricks so you can learn how to maintain and improve your mental health. One's mental health is so important to the overall well being of the human body, and we want to be here for you guys on your journey to achieve life balance. Stay tuned for some exciting content on how to improve your own lifestyle!