College Being

One of the most puzzling trends that’s emerged in the supercharged, super busy life of the modern man is the pride associated with sleep deprivation. “I didn’t get any sleep last night” is said with an air of bored superiority and translated as “I work so much more than you”. Are we really competing with each other based on how much (actually, how little) we sleep?

I’m not going to hit you with all the boring details of what happens when you don’t get enough sleep. Instead, I’m going to kick you where it hurts – sleeping less than your body needs means more pounds on the weight scale! That’s right folks! Sleep is brain food. If you’re not giving your brain enough rest time, it starts asking for chocolates and doughnuts and brownies. So unless you want to start loosening the notches on your belt, pay attention.

First of all, you know there’s something wrong with your sleep cycle if you wake up cranky every day, have strange cravings or can’t eat anything for two hours after waking up, have memory and concentration problems, and feel like napping in the middle of the day. These are all simple signals your brain is trying to send. When you don’t listen, you crash – literally and figuratively. Sleep deprivation is a major cause of road accidents, increased insulin levels and heart disease.
Second, lets debunk some sleep myths.

1. There’s no magic number. There is no minimum daily requirement (its not a vitamin pill). Some people get along with as little as 2 hours a day and others need upto 9 hours. Find out what works best for you and then be consistent.

2. Reading in bed is not a good idea. Your bed should be a place your brain associates with sleep. Read in the living room, read on a comfy couch in your bedroom, but the bed is a shut eye zone.

3. Snooze marathons don’t help. Want to know the real cause of Monday blues? Sleeping all Sunday. No one has a perfect routine. There are times when we just can’t get enough sleep and our body accumulates “sleep debt”. If you’ve missed out an hour of sleep everyday in the week, you can’t pay it off by sleeping 6 hours extra on Sunday. Sleep debt has to be paid off in installments – sleep a little bit more every day of the next week.

4. Working out before bedtime is a definite no. In fact, avoid any intense activities before bedtime (chill, this doesn’t include sex). Tiring yourself out before going to sleep is not the answer. Instead, gradually change your daily schedule to cover all mentally and physically intensive activities at least 4 hours before your bedtime.

This next part is really important. Click to continue reading…

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Having a hard time staying awake during lectures?

Being a student, I loved exams, yes, I really loved them, because they gave the opportunity to see what knowledge and skills I was able to get during the period of my study. And now I understand, that every exam was worth passing. But there was one small detail that did not give me any chance to enjoy my process of study in full, and these were… lectures. Yes, some dreaded lectures on mornings or incredibly boring lectures on afternoons – it does not matter actually; the main problem was that these lectures were difficult to listen till the very end without going asleep.

Certainly, every student knows how to deal with his different problems in college, and boring lectures were one of these problems for me. I bet, many today’s students will agree with me here, as I do not know any young person who would like ALL lectures he has at college or university. The main thing is to stay awake during such lectures, and here some quite creative methods and solutions come. Have you ever tried any of them?

#1. Listen carefully

It is not easy to do, when you find this lecture boring, but you CAN do that! Do not sit and think of how boring this lecture is, and how sleepy you are at the moment. Try listening to your professor carefully, and pay attention to what he says. It may sound strange to you, but when you listen to your professor, his lecture may suddenly appear very interesting.

Moreover, do not be passive. Think critically on everything a lecturer days, ask questions… As far as you understand, it will be more difficult to call such a lecture boring, when you take an active part in its discussion. And plus, it gives your brain some kind of a workout, when it is difficult to fall asleep actually.

#2. Take colorful notes

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Studying abroad is one fantasy that every student wants to fulfill once in a lifetime. So if you are one of those passionate students desperately seeking an admission in a foreign university, here are some pros and cons of studying abroad that you must give a serious thought before applying for your student visa:

1) The Experience Away From the Homeland

Pros:

Going to a new place and mingling with new people is always an exciting idea. Exploring new culture and society, eating food and looking around fascinating sites make the whole experience more memorable and beautiful. Besides, you meet with locals and make new friends and blend into the diversity of a new place.

Cons:

Staying in a new place has its own set of problems. While it may look like a refreshing experience, it takes time and efforts to settle in a new place, especially if no one knows you there. Besides you are prone to many unforeseen problems that may come in the form of financial stress and diseases. You may even become a victim of racism or religious discrimination. A good research and analysis of your destination will give you enough knowledge about your choice of your place and what to expect there.

2) Meeting with New People and Society

Pros:

Going abroad offers you an opportunity to make new friends and social acquaintances. In an academic setting, you will have a chance to meet people with diversified social and cultural background. They may have similar interests and hobbies, so you can befriend with like-minded people who may become a big support in your studies.

Cons:

While you are away from your home, you may become a victim of home sickness. If you are someone who loves Click to continue reading…

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