Foood, Sleep,zzzz, and...

I worked my way through art school as a housing coordinator. I was in my mid-thirties to early 40's. There were three things I used to say and I always forget the third.

College is a great time and a stressful challenge. All nighters, freedom to experiment, and surging power of youth can make a dynamic engine or a crashing train.  Best part of being a smart youngun, you can always run back to the engine and adjust the course.  Maybe it was exercise?

Food: Your mama ain't cookin anymore and she may not b e paying all your bills.  If you eat just cafeteria food you can cont on adding 20 lbs the first year.  3 meals a day with snacks is a good ideal, but may be unrealistic. Oh I remember my first college fays in my twenties where friendlies ice cream sundaes, especially the Mt Kathadin nearly the size of the mountain and huge pizzas were common snacks. Ouch. But hey I kept my figure then! Must have been love?

If your school has events like art openings where there's free food, eat there.  If they have fruit, take an apple or orange and have it for later in the dorm. Fruit makes great study snacks. If you are friends or can quickly become friends with the servers, see if you can take the leftovers. I used to ask caterers etc. So much gets thrown away.  I'd take platters to grad students or studios and tell them to eat.  Few people declined.  We were all on tight budgets.

Food can reduce stress. Splurge on breakfast or have enough quick protein snacks to carry with you. Gorp. Yogurt. Protein bars. Nuts. Munch if necessary. Bagel and cream cheese a good standby.

In the evenings make sure to have teas, expensive no sugar jams, crackers or bread, cheese, good deli meats, some fruit, peanut butter, almond butter, hummus, pita bread, healthy dips:  enough choices?

These ingredients can make a stress break for 2-4 friends quick and easy. Eat slow, and laugh, and share ...stories?  We also used to sponsor group entertainment where the RA's would prepare a snack and invite residents to watch TV or a now a days a DVD.  You can relax, not feel all alone, and eat.  A theme here huh?  One RA used to hold a monthly dinner and invite a speaker. He made my job easy.

ZZZZ...hope you are not asleep yet. Write home for care packages. Share. In one apartment I lived, parents regularly sent non-perishable goods. It dramatically stretched out food plan.

Write: send emails, blog, or keep a journal.  Writing helps dump the feelings out and makes room for new perspectives. Plus you can do it anywhere. Ditto sketch.

Walk: a no brainer.

My freshman psych teacher said your brain can only absorb so much at one time.  Effective study habits included a 10 minute break every 20 minutes.  Also create non food rewards. Include stretching.

Late night study cramming sessions? Take some B-12 preferably with folic acid and B-6. You'll retain more and be alert and functional while studying.  Besides, it is legal.  Eat the cookies later.

Go to youtube to find a funny video...it's late and I have to write another blog!

Sleep. 8 hours best. Or sleep later in the morning. Or take short naps. This is for survival folks.  We all need it. I averaged 5-6 hours of sleep for one year (and I was 36) and I was nearly a basket case, and stress just skyrocketed...life is much easier when you sleep. Besides you look better too. Just by resting some, everything goes easier.

If I sound like an old lady, so what. Once we taught a few of these skills to our students, we had less emergencies, less roommate problems, less drop outs, better grades, and actually happier students. I'd also get a lot of fresh apples in the fall, and have them in my office. I loved when students stopped by not in crises but to say hello and could I have an apple?

Those apples paid off big time. Take care of yourself.  Laugh a lot.  The world is too serious. One of my teachers used to meet with a few of us at lunch. He brought a table cloth, and a flower. Sometimes a candle. We had a little style while most others gossipped. For the four or five of us, "lunch" became very special.  When we returned to paint, we were rested and nourished. 

Go outside and share an orange with 5 people. Have fun. Afterall you are in college.  Mary MacIntyre