Michael Kirst's Blog, page 10

Tips to Be an Effective Engineering Student

BY KRISTIAN KRISYK

Earning your engineering major is not an easy achievement in our life, but it will undoubtedly provide you with a rewarding career once you graduate. To complete all of your student activities successfully, you will need to be skillful in time management and also passionate about what you study. To ensure you enjoy your student years and make the most of your engineering studies, we bring you useful tips and trick to be an effective engineering student.

Never stop reading

Your studies can get exhausting, and you’ll probably spend time reading other books that are not a part of your literature. However, if you wish to continually develop your skills and work on building your engineering mindset, you will need to read a lot of engineering books. If these books don’t help you relax from your studies, find some engineering magazines that will provide you with useful information but will not make you feel like you’re studying when reading them.

Using your free time for preparation

All semesters all challenging for engineering students, but some of them will be easier than others. What you should do when you have more free time is to prepare for the upcoming semester. This will provide more balance in your student life as, during the more difficult semesters, you will have an equal amount of free time as you did during the easier ones. If you have more free time than you’ve expected, look for some engineering courses and enroll in the one you like. This will show you another side of this industry and suggest some ideas that might help you make your employment decisions in the future.

Always find time to relax

While studying is crucial for your engineering success, you shouldn’t be focused on your studies all the time. Having time for yourself and your friends will help you recharge your batteries. After all, when you’re relaxed and well rested, you will feel more motivated and concentrated on learning. Think about things that make you feel good but are not connected to your engineering classes or other related activities. It can be anything from finding a dream house and a pool where you’ll be spending your student years to going out for drinks or jogging. Anything that makes you happy and satisfied with both your student and personal life, you should go for it.

Sharing knowledge with your peers

Studying together can be very beneficial to you. Not only you have an active social life, but you’re also approaching your studies from another angle. Discussing engineering topics with your peers can also raise more interest to find other activities that could build your engineering mindset. Of course, this should not become a priority over your own study time, but you should combine it with team study as both provide enormous value to your student performance. More importantly, when studying together, you and your peers can help each other understand topics that were not very clear during classes.

Signing up for tutoring session

You can be a very successful student, but you still shouldn’t neglect the importance of tutoring centers for engineering students. You can understand course material really well, but a tutor will always provide additional value to your existing knowledge. Your professors work within a specific time limit and curriculum so it might be difficult for you to get the information you want from them. However, a tutor will always be at your disposal, from preparing you for a test to merely answering your questions about a recent subject you’ve discussed during class.

Conclusion

Only engineering students know how much challenging it can get to perform successfully with all of your studies; however, the benefits of an engineering career are genuinely motivating. Start implementing our tips and trick and enjoy your student success!

BY LINE–Kristian Krisyk had been working in the field of web design for 7 years before becoming an entrepreneur in 2014 in design and marketing. His professional interests and hobbies defined major topics of his articles. These days Kristian runs his business and looks for new development opportunities. Follow him @KristianKrisyk or contact at kristian.krisyk@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

7 Ways to Keep Your LInkedin Account Up To Date in College

BY LORRAINE McKINNEY

While you are attending college, your Linkedin account may not seem like a priority. That is not the case. Keeping your Linkedin account up to date will help you with a career once you are ready to start looking. Here are seven ways to keep your Linkedin account up to date while you are attending college.

 

Picture perfect – If you have not changed your Linkedin picture since you graduated high school or earlier it is time to do so now. You want to have a professional looking picture that shows you have grown and matured since your high school years. You can find tips online that will help you take a professional picture, or you can pay a professional to take one for you. Either way you want to be sure your picture is up to date.
Cover Letter – If you have a generalized cover letter in your Linkedin account, you want to be sure it is updated with your current class information and extracurricular activities. If you have joined the newspaper or are a member of the student governing body you want to include that in your information. You do not want to list too much, but put down any classes that might show what degree you are working towards and any extracurriculars that will pertain to the career you are going to choose. It will show future employers that you are not just studying, but you are active in your college.
Resume – Potential employers will be impressed with your up to date resume. If you have taken higher level classes or have gotten an internship you want to include that information on your updated resume. You also want to include any extracurricular programs and volunteer work you have participated in. Not only do you want to update what is in your resume, you want to polish the look of the resume itself. You can find different resume examples online that will show you how to give your resume a fresh new look.
Personal website – Take some time to update your personal website so that future employers will see how you have progressed. You can link your assignments and more to your personal website and then link it all to Linkedin. It is important to keep up to date with your personal website as you advance in your college career. Updating it every semester will help you remember what you have accomplished and will show future employers that you are concerned about your potential career.
Network – Now that you are attending college, you can add to your network . The more you experience, the more your network grows. Find people who are interested in the career you are looking into and see if you can add them to your Linkedin profile. You can ask professors, administrators, coaches, and others. The more you network, the greater your potential to advance in your career once you have graduated.
Recommendations – Now that you have a larger network, you can get some updated recommendations to put on Linkedin. You want to have recommendations from at least two people you have taken a class from or have gotten to know from your extracurricular activities. Make an appointment to talk to them and ask them to write a recommendation on your Linkedin account. You can also ask them to write a general letter of recommendation you can keep with your resume and your cover letter.
Blog – Start a blog or be sure to continue or update a blog you have started. Potential employers can see what you are currently doing and know that you will keep up with things even when you are busy. Continuity is important to potential employers and you want to be sure they can see that in your blog. You should link your blog to your professional website and your Linkedin page.

 

Lorraine McKinney is an academic tutor and elearning specialist.

 

5 Ways To Make Your Summer Vacation Productive

Summer is a lovely season. The days become longer, the weather is warm and sunny, but apart from this, you get a chance to have some time for yourself.

It’s 90 days that you can spend productively and become a better version of yourself. It’s the high time for spiritual, health, and mental growth. Check out these tips to make the best of your free time and enjoy the summer to the full.

 1. Take Care of Your Health and Body

Over the winder we don’t get enough vitamins and vital resources to maintain our body properly. During the summer you can find all sorts of fruit and vegetables, so it can be a great idea to start a healthy diet. Our body is our temple. Everyone should take care of it and love it.  

In addition to this, you can set a goal for this summer to lose some weight and keep your body fit. There are various ways to do it:

 

join a gym;
take up yoga or pilates classes;
download an app to do daily exercises; or
watch videos on YouTube and work out at home, etc.

 2. Volunteer

If you want to make a change in this world or learn new skills, become a volunteer. Nowadays, you can find numerous programs to volunteer abroad that also gives you an opportunity to travel. Help with recycling, take care of homeless people, work with kinds, or volunteer for animal shelters. All of these can benefit you and teach something new.

 3. Learn Something New

Just think of it, you have three months to learn something new. What would you like to do? It’s possible to learn a new language or at least start. Languages like Spanish or Italian are not that hard to master over the summer. Or maybe art is your passion? Then it’s a great time to take up painting classes.

 4. Get a Summer Job

If you have some long-term goals for the future, finding a job for the summer is great solution for students. It will bring you a lot of benefits like:

 

mastering your communication skills;
learning how things work within the company;
enhancing your knowledge in particular sphere;
making new acquaintances, etc.

And above all, you learn how to be independent and earn money for a living. You’re going to need these skills in the future, so the earlier you start to develop them, the better. What is more, money is what you can invest in yourself in your dreams: go on a trip, take a course and study something new, start your own business, etc.

5. Grow Spiritually

Over the year we go through some rough experiences that can greatly influence our inner world. So, you might consider taking a trip to some place all by yourself. It’s good to make a change and go to isolated and deserted places, or you can take a long walk along the Camino.

The Camino is a number of routes that begin in Spain, France and Portugal, and all lead to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Not only people who need retreat can enjoy it, but also the ones who like hiking or cycling also like to take these paths and go on a tour. Just imagine all the picturesque nature and cozy towns you’re going to see.

We live in the world of numerous opportunities, so make the best of your summer vacation by turning it into a productive one.

BIO: Connie Benton is a passionate freelance writer and regular contributor.

 

Applying for Financial Aid? Best Tips to Get You Started

BY JONATHAN KELLY

Paying for school is not always easy. Whether your parents help you or you are applying for a student loan/financial aid, it can be a lot to consider.  When you start the financial planning process, it can be stressful.  Attempting to figure out a way to afford the education you want, takes planning.  There are an estimated 44.7 million Americans with student-loan debt.  In 2018, 69% of college students took out student loans.

There are many avenues for financial aid, and federal aid is always need-based.  Federal student loans are available for any student.  The private sector also provides student loans, through different lending institutions.  Financial aid will be grants based on financial need.  Scholarships through schools or other organizations are acceptable.  Federal loans or federal work-study is also an option.

Understand Your Eligibility

Part of the application process should start with some basic information.  You will need identification documents for the forms you are filling out.  To qualify for federal student aid, such as grants, loans, and work-study funds, you must prove financial need.  This is the difference between the cost of attendance at the school and your expected family contribution.  Along with this, you must be a U.S. citizen.  You will need a valid social security number and need to be enrolled in a school or accepted as a regular student. You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving federal student aid each year, and need to maintain your eligible status.  This comes down to making progress on your degree.  You must refile your FAFSA ( Federal Application for Federal Student Aid) every year.  Before filing, gather the documents you need for identification: your tax returns and information about all other income sources.

Stay on Top of the Administrative Work and Know Your Deadlines

There is a finite amount of financial aid available.  The financial aid allocated comes on a first-come-first-serve basis.  This means you must complete your FAFSA as soon as you can, to maximize what you can receive.  There are some important dates for filing, found at the FAFSA website, including information for your state.  You should not wait to file your taxes before filing your FAFSA, because the application does ask for tax return information.  You need to include your parents on your FAFSA forms, even if you pay your own bills and file your individual taxes.  Provide your parent’s financial information, regardless if they contribute to your education costs or not.  You can submit your application more than once.  Also, search for other options if financial aid does not cover most of your college costs.

Consider Scholarships and Grants Before Loans

Financial aid can be a good place to start when you are looking for funding for school.  Yet, it may not cover all your education costs.  Scholarships and grants can be excellent resources because you don’t pay them back.  There are extensive resources for student financial aid.

This includes scholarships/grants, and student programs and internships.  Every state has this information available for you to look at.  If you do end up choosing loans, private student loans are another avenue to think about.  Many schools will point you towards preferred lenders for student loans, but you should do your own research and pick the right lender.

If All Goes Well, prepare for a Financial Package and Money you Provide Yourself

If you did end up qualifying for financial aid, it may not all come in the form of a grant or a gift aid.  The need-aid that is given, is almost always done as a financial-aid package, which may consist of a grant, a subsidized student loan, and work-study.  The total amount of aid given may even fall short of the amount that you were eligible for.  This is a shortfall, which is the extra amount you must provide yourself, besides the expected family contribution.  More importantly, do not count yourself out and do not fall into the misconception that there is an income cut off for financial aid.

Finally, prepare for complications.  You will be filling out endless forms, with some forms being more complex than others. But, the basic aid application form is not as complicated as it looks.  Gather all your information first, and take your time inputting the data.

Take advantage of the money you can receive, which does not have to be paid back.  There are scary statistics showing that the American student-loan debt is upwards of 1.56 trillion dollars.  This is spread across 45 million borrowers.  Paying for school does not have to be stressful, because you can use the resources you have available.  Financial aid is a useful option to consider. The information accessed through federal and private resources will help you.

Jon Kelly has been involved in digital marketing since 2004. He currently works for 1stOnThelist.com, an award-winning Internet marketing agency based in Vancouver, Canada. When he is not helping people with their website, he enjoys learning about cutting-edge technologies like crypto-currency and artificial intelligence.

6 Tips for Requesting a Recommendation Letter from your Professor

BY JANE HURST

At some point in your college career it is possible that you may want to ask your professor for a letter of recommendation for an internship or job. When this occurs there are some steps you want to follow in order to have a chance at receiving the recommendation. Here are 6 tips for requesting a letter of recommendation from your professor.

1. Approach your professor 

About two months or so before you need your letter of recommendation, schedule a time during their office hours to meet with them and ask them if they would be willing to write you a recommendation. Asking them during office hours will allow them to focus on what you are requesting. You can try asking them before or after class, but they will probably be thinking of other things and not be able to pay as much attention as they would in a scheduled meeting.

2. Professor information 

If you are going to ask your professor for a letter of recommendation you need to be sure to use the correct salutation in your email. While you might say, “Dear Professor Y,” it would be better if you said, “Dear Dr. Y,” if they have a doctorate or “Dear Mr./Mrs. Y” if they have a master’s degree. Little things like that will put you on the positive side of your professor. Your email should be formal as you are requesting a formal letter of recommendation.

3. Classes 

In your email you should start by introducing yourself and letting the professor know which classes you took together. If you did not have a class with this professor, but were working with them in an advising position such as a club or organization, you should include that information. Remember that professors can have hundreds of a students a semester. Including this information in the letter can help jog their memory.

4. Summary

After you have introduced yourself in the email and let the professor know why you are writing them, you want to give a summary of what job or internship you are applying for. This way your professor can personalize their letter of recommendation. Give them a brief description and maybe tell them why you are interested in this particular company. The more information you provide to your professor, the better the letter of recommendation will be.

5. Informational materials 

You will want to attach a copy of your resume, cover letter, and any other information that will help your professor fill out the letter of recommendation. Make sure your resume is complete and up to date. You can use online resume builders to create the perfect resume for your professor to peruse. You will also want to update your cover letter to reflect the position you are applying for. Including a link to your personal website on your resume and cover letter can also be helpful for your professor.

6. Follow up 

If your professor has not gotten back to you two weeks before your letter is due you may send them a gentle reminder. Be sure to be formal and do not panic or make demands. Professors do not have a lot of time on their hands, but if they told you they were willing to write you a letter they just may need a quick reminder. This email should just be a couple of sentences long. You should refer to your previous email to help jog their memory. Once they have sent the letter you will want to send them a thank you email. This is a common courtesy that will impress your professor and keep you in their good graces.

 

Byline:

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter.

 

7 Ways to Use Social Media Sites to Obtain an Internship

By Lorraine McKinney

Being in college is stressful enough. You have reading and writing assignments, tests to study for, and trying to decide what you want to do when you graduate. If you are looking to acquire an internship as part of your career track, here  are seven ways to use social media sites to obtain an internship.

1. Create a unique personal website – One thing business are looking for is someone who is tech savvy. Creating your own personal website will open a door to your world that a paper resume does not do. You can show potential employers your creative side and let them know what you are capable of. Use videos and pictures to promote yourself to businesses. Remember to keep things professional, but be sure to add a few individual items that are unique to you.

2. Headshot – Make sure you have a professional headshot. Potential employers want to see who they are looking into before they meet you. You can get a headshot done by a professional photographer or go online and find out how to do it yourself. Your headshot can be used on your personal website and other correspondences like your email.

3. Facebook – You can find an internship by using facebook. Send personal messages around to your family, friends, and past employers and find out if they are aware of any internships that might be available. You can also post a notice on your facebook page explaining that you are looking for an internship and would appreciate any leads. If you do use your Facebook account to ask about internships, be sure your Facebook account looks professional. Potential employers could look at your account and you want them to have a positive image of you.

4. Twitter – Like Facebook, you can use your twitter account to ask for and seek any leads on internships. You can download your resume so it is available to potential employers. Before you download your resume, though, you want to be sure to look it over and check for any updates you can make. You can check out an online resume builder for examples of how to update your resume and make it your own.

5. Linkedin – This social media site was built with the business world in mind. You can upload your resume and contact potential employers and former employers at the push of a button. Be sure to be professional when you reach out to potential employees and make sure your account reflects your professionalism.

6. Blog – If you have a blog, you should include it on your resume and personal website. You can also provide links to your social media pages on your resume. Blogging will show future employers that you can maintain a site over a period of time with consistency. Employers want to know that you will do what you say you can and will do and showing them that you maintain a blog will go far in convincing them that you have what it takes to work as an intern at their company.

7. Research – This is one of the most important steps to landing an internship. College has prepared you to do the research that you will need to figure out what company you want to work for and why. You will want to show your potential employers that you have taken the time to research what  they do and how they do it. This will impress people who should already be a bit impressed by you. This will help seal the deal. Research a company you are interested in online, at their social sites, and in media. Get to know the company so when you are asked why you want to internship there, you can give them a well rounded and intelligent answer.

 

Lorraine McKinney is an academic tutor and elearning specialist.

 

The Importance of Insurance Education for College Students

BY ANTON LUCANUS

As a young child, insurance is word we may hear tossed around in medical offices or hearing other adults discuss vehicles. By the time we make our way into being a young adult we understand that insurance means safety, and necessary. It is true that insurance is a measure of safety that allows us a form of protection if something should go wrong. Whether it is a broken arm, a flooded house, or a wrecked vehicle, it’s important to have that protection because without insurance, unnecessary costs can rise quickly.

The main problem with insurance isn’t whether or not someone is covered, it lies more within the issues surrounding people not having the proper education about what type of insurances are available or how to go about learning more. Financial education is frequently taught in secondary education, but it should be made a priority for higher education institutions. Unless someone is majoring in business, finance, or accounting, they might not often understand the implications that they will face of not knowing what happens when they are legally considered adults.

Purchasing an insurance policy can seem scary because it can seem like a sale or advertisement where someone is trying to get the most money out of you instead of truly help you make your best purchase for your income range and specified needs, especially when it is done via a call center. For college students, many schools have corporate sponsorships with certain businesses that may allow them the opportunity to get a discount when purchasing an insurance premium. Places like Brantford insurance brokers and other educational resources are able to help those struggling to find education about insurance.

Many studies have concluded that the financial education young adults have is primarily learned from their parents or caregivers. Family income and money skills carry down through generations. It can actually be a hard habit to break for those who struggle with negative spending habits. So understanding where those core financial values come from can help someone looking to improve their financial stability from a young age.

There are many questions a student might have about their personal finances. From budgeting, to credit scores, insurance plans and financing a car, there are so many different things that adulthood can bring. And then there are essential student expenditures: textbooks, private VPN services for public wifi on campus, travel and accommodation. Couple all of that with student loan debt and coming to college can start to seem overwhelming. That overwhelming feeling stems from a lack of uncertainty in the areas of finances. Not all college or university students have their parents to help them when they are venturing out into the real world. For those those students on their own, signing a promissory note of agreeing to pay back over 100,000 dollars can be amazingly frightening. They may start to question whether or not college is even worth it at times. Without proper education, it can be difficult to understand where to even start when creating a plan.

Starting with budgeting, an insurance plan must go in place somewhere in a budget. There are many financial advisors and therapists that can help students budget. Online resources are available to teach students about budgeting. College is not often a place where students are financially fruitful. Most of their money goes to pay for books and tuition before food and housing. All of the necessities of college and time requirements of dedication can make it difficult to even hold a part time job. The most important part of budgeting in college is to understand no spending should be done until necessities are paid for. Reckless spending can be harmful to one’s overall mental health and grades.

Some students may feel insecure discussing finances due to their lack of education in that area which is why it is important to break down the stigma that we are born understanding financial limits. It would be wise for higher education institutions to implement a program that would provide introductory education to first year college students about the financial hurdles they may need to overcome while in college. This program might involve people within the community that are insurance companies, business owners, investors and other financial stakeholders that can come educate and give advice to students about what is available to them.

College students are generally too bogged down with lecture information and exams to think financially first. They are school oriented adults who have a passion for education, they just need to know what is available to them to help them implement financially savvy skills and build good credit scores. Ignorance is only unacceptable in the refusal to be educated. It is crucial to the advancement of society that we continue to educate students on everything available to them and set them up for success, not failure.

 

Byline – Anton Lucanus is the Director of Neliti. During his college years, he maintained a perfect GPA, was published in a top cancer journal, and received many of his country’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships. Anton writes for The College Puzzle as a means to share the lessons learnt throughout his degree and to guide current students to achieve personal and educational fulfilment during college life.

How To Realign After You Have Been Dumped In College

BY MIKKIE MILLS

It can feel like you have lost everything in the world when you have been dumped. It may seem like the love you had was is the most important thing in your life and now it is gone. It becomes difficult for you to even envision yourself with someone else. Fortunately, you do not have to. There are so many other things that you can do after you have been dumped. It’s not the end of the world, and you will soon see that when you refocus your energy and take time to do these 5 things.

1.Get Rid of Old Memories

The first thing that you should do is consider getting rid of the old memories. Delete this person’s number from your phone. Remove all old pictures of the two of you together from social media. You need to get rid of the memories that are associated with this person because it is only going to trigger painful thoughts. You need to move on as quickly as possible. It will not be an overnight process, but you can resist the urge to call when you have deleted the number from your phone. You will not go down memory lane when you have gotten rid of the pictures that the two of you are together. These are the things that can help you cope quicker.

 

Consider The Benefits Of Higher Education Abroad

You may be having a high school heartbreak. It could be a college romance that has gone sour. There are even times where you may be an adult that is part of the working class that is experiencing heartbreak. What you will discover is that it is never too late to consider going back to school even if you’re older. Take time to study abroad and engulf yourself in a completely different culture. There is nothing like going to another country, experiencing a new food, customs and people. You may even find yourself learning a new language. There may be something that you have always wanted to do, but you may have never had the ability to do so.

 

Have Good Cry

You don’t have to know all of the answers. It is perfectly fine to have a good cry. In fact, this is something that you need to do as a part of a purge. Express your anger. Get it all out. Take the time that you need to vent. These are the things that are going to help you keep your sanity. You may need to cry multiple times when you have been dumped. It’s okay. This is all part of the healing process.

 

Call A Friend

Sometimes crying on your own is not enough. At times you may need to learn how to call out on a friend that can help you with some of the pain that you are going through. It is good to have a friend in your life that can help you process your emotions. If you want to vent you should have a person that you can confide in. That is why friends are so important. They give you the ability to look at life from a completely different angle. The world looks very different when you have another person that you can confide in.

 

Take Time To Be Alone

It has been said that the quickest way to get over an old love is to move on to a new love. That is not a healthy thing to do. What works better is taking the time to be alone. Enjoy time to yourself. Look at what you can do alone and realize your self worth. That is how to become a better partner for someone in the future. Carrying all that baggage from one place to another is not healthy. Take the time to get to know and love yourself after you get dumped.

Byline: Mikkie is a freelance writer from Chicago. She has a passion for advanced learning, reading, and health and fitness. She is also a mother of two who loves sharing her ideas on education, learning, health, fitness and yoga. When she’s not writing, she’s chasing the little ones around or can be found at the local climbing gym or doing yoga.

 

 

7 methods to improve memory and concentration for students

BY SEBASTIAN MILLER

Memory and focus are two critical factors that can have a massive impact on one’s academic performance. With a sound memory, which consists of the ability to recall past events precisely with ease, you stand a chance of achieving your targeted grades, irrespective of how challenging your course of study is or what kind of essay writing assisstance you managed to find.

Being able to concentrate in class or while studying is another critical factor that can set a student apart. And excitingly, these things are not that difficult to improve. Here are a few tips to help you improve memory and concentration.

Create time for mindfulness meditation

There are enormous benefits you can get from this act. Just 10 to 20 minutes of meditation daily can help boost your attention span, according to research. And in addition to preventing the mind from wandering and reducing anxious thoughts, mindfulness meditation can lower the risk of depression, reduce stress levels, and improve cardiovascular health.

According to research, a neurophysiological link exists between breathing and attention. The study also went further to indicate that breathing, which is a critical element in mindfulness meditation, directly impacts noradrenalin, a natural chemical found in the brain. So, how one breathes affects the chemistry of the brain in a way that can improve one’s concentration and brain health.

Stop the distractions

One of the ways you can improve your concentration is to avoid distractions in any form. You also have to discipline yourself and know when to say no to things that are not initially in your plans.

Technology can also help improve your concentration. If you discover that you are spending too much time on social media or other platforms instead of studying or concentrating on your research (probably while working on your assignment), then you can install software or app that prevents access to social media until you are done with your work.

Fight and conquer that procrastination

Having too much work on your desk or thinking about too many things at a time can make it more challenging for an individual to concentrate. So, avoid procrastination. Make it a habit to work on tasks at the appropriate time, so that at the end of the day, you will have little to worry about.

Procrastination can increase your workload, which can result in confusion and poor concentration. On the other hand, thinking about too many things at a time can increase your stress levels also.

Cut back on sugar consumption

A reduction in sugar consumption can have a massive impact on one’s cognitive ability and general health. Research has pointed out that excess consumption of sugar-laden diets can cause poor memory in both young and old.

Besides sugar reduction, another thing you can do to improve your memory is to start incorporating brain foods into your diet. Examples of such foods include blueberry, fatty fish, dark chocolate, water, flax seeds, and leafy green vegetables.

Engage in physical activities

Exercise does not only benefit the body. It can also benefit your mind and help to improve concentration. Exercise helps to boost one’s focus by making sure that the brain ignores any form of distraction.

You can exercise for at least 5 – 10 minutes daily and still reap huge benefits. You don’t have to spend hours daily or engage in rigorous exercise to achieve your aim.

Also, engaging in physical activities can cause you to maintain a healthy body weight, which is essential for your wellbeing. It’s also one of the ways you can keep your mind and body in top shape. Obesity, on the other hand, can cause changes to genes related to memory, which can negatively affect one’s memory.

Sleep

Having proper rests, particularly during night hours, is another proven method for students to improve memory and concentration. Research has also pointed out that being sleep deprived can impact one’s memory negatively.

It is also advisable to sleep for at least 7 – 9 hours per day. Another thing to consider about sleep is not only the duration but time of sleep. For instance, if you usually sleep around 10 pm every day, ensure you sleep in the said time regularly.

Train your brain

Another method to improve memory is to engage in cognitive exercises regularly. In this case, you need to play brain games and increase difficulty levels gradually. Examples of brain games include crosswords, Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, chess, among others.

Conclusion

Having a sound memory and the ability to focus attentively can help you progress faster in your academic life. So, if your memory and concentration are not as you want them to be, you need to start doing the right thing to improve them. However, the tips on this post can help you achieve that. So, start implementing them to improve your memory and concentration.

 

Author Bio

Sebastian Miller is a former Calling Lake School science teacher. After 4 years of teaching, he decided to become a freelance writer. In Sebastian’s opinion, math is the core of all science and his goal is to enlighten as many schoolers as possible through writing

 

 

8 Strategies to Use When You Don’t Feel Motivated to Study

BY ANNABEL MONAGHAN

Studying is one of your most important tools for success in a college environment. Most full-time students should plan to spend 30 hours a week studying—and that’s outside of time for lectures and classwork. For the studious and most academically motivated in university, this isn’t much of a challenge, but for many of us, studying is a challenge.

Studying requires hours of dedicated focus, and summoning the willpower and energy for that can be tough—especially if you’re dealing with other responsibilities, like a job or parenthood. If motivation is your biggest problem, there are some strategies you can use to overcome it.

Compensating for Study Apathy

When you don’t feel motivated to study, for whatever reason, try some of these strategies to break out of your rut:

 

Declutter your room

 Decluttering has a number of benefits all its own, but it can also be a useful way to jump-start your productivity. Picking things off the floor or clearing your desk doesn’t take much effort, but it can feel good and get your body and mind in gear. By the time you’re done, you’ll feel motivated to take on a new task, satisfied that you did something productive—and you’ll probably have a cleaner workspace where you can do it.

 

Set up a timetable (with breaks)

 Instead of jumping right into studying, consider setting up a timetable for yourself. For example, you might allocate 20 minutes of studying, followed by a 10-minute break, with repeating cycles like this indefinitely. You’ll begin your momentum since you’ve officially taken a step toward studying, and you’ll establish some degree of motivation for yourself; you know that, no matter what, after 20 minutes of studying, you’ll have time for a break.

 

Commit to five minutes

Starting a task requires much more effort and willpower than continuing a task you’ve already started. To overcome this mental hurdle, commit to studying for an inconsequentially small amount of time—like 5 minutes. Most people can convince themselves to study for just 5 minutes, but by the time those 5 minutes are up, you’ll have enough focus and energy to keep that momentum going for another hour or two.

 

Start with something easy

You can also jump-start your motivation by choosing to tackle some easy task before diving into the hard material. For example, you might review flashcards of material you already understand before taking on something new, or you might read a short chapter for one subject before beginning work on your term paper for another. Like many of the items on this list, it provides you with a combination of benefits, including a short-term feeling of accomplishment, an excuse to get started, and momentum you can carry into your core studying material.

 

Plan to reward yourself

Everything is easier to start when you have a reward waiting for you at the end. If you achieve a certain studying goal, like completing a chapter of content or studying for a full 2 hours, reward yourself with a pizza, a retail purchase, or even an episode of your favorite TV show. It will motivate you to achieve your goal and make studying a more positive overall experience.

 

Eliminate distractions

Distractions can be powerful deterrents to studying, so you may have to exercise control in eliminating them. For starters, turn off all notifications on all your devices, or put them in airplane mode if you don’t need internet access. Turn off any televisions or speakers in your environment (apart for some low-level music or white noise, if that helps you), and put away any distracting objects.

 

Find what works for you

Everyone has different motivations. Whether you’re studying to become a specialist surgeon or even an 18-wheeler accident attorney, take some time to experiment and find what works for you. Once you know there are a few tactics that can perk you up and/or get you in the mood for a good study session, you can call upon them in the future to build your momentum. Much of your studying success depends on your structure and routines, so don’t neglect this area of your academic life.

 

Enlist the help of a friend

Hold yourself accountable to your goals by telling them to a friend or roommate. Explain what you intend to do and how you intend to do it; just telling someone else can serve as a powerful motivator to keep you committed to your goals. They may also be able to provide you with tips, or a better environment in which to study.

 

Attend a group session

Many students study more effectively and more consistently when they’re surrounded by their peers, so try to seek out a study group for your class of choice. If you haven’t tried group study sessions before, now’s the perfect time.

 

Annabel Monaghan is a writer with a passion for education and edtech. She writes education and career articles for The College Puzzle with the aim of providing useful information for students and young professionals. If you have any questions, please feel free to email her at annabelmonaghanwriter@gmail.com.