5 Tips for Surviving Application Season

Between completing college applications, taking classes during a pandemic, participating in extracurricular activities, and the holiday season around the corner it’s understandable if your student is feeling stressed. It’s important for students to realize that they can't always control events, but they can control their responses to them. Coping with stress is an important skill for anyone, but a priceless skill for any student especially those shuffling through a long list of to-dos and responsibilities. 

Ivy Link has compiled a short list of tips to help keep your students focused and healthy, especially during hectic times. 

1. Get Sleep 
   According to the Center For Disease Control (CDC) teenagers aged 13–18 years should sleep 8–10 hours per 24 hours. About 7 out of 10 (72.7%) did not get enough sleep on school nights. Encourage your student to avoid caffeine before bed-that means no late night latte or Red Bull for all-nighters. In addition, your student should create a room for sleep which means no TVs or screens. Lastly, encourage your student to relax before they call it a night, whether it’s a warm bath or some non-school-related reading. For more information on teens and sleep read this article by Stanford Medicine.
   

2. Have Some Fun
   It's easy for students to forget to take care of themselves while knee-deep in their senior year of high school. But no matter how busy your student may be, it’s important for them to schedule time to do something they like or that relaxes them. Maybe that means having a movie night with friends, reading a book or doing some yoga. It’s important for your student to take a break from writing essays and doing homework. This will help them rejuvenate their body and brain.
   

3. Eat Well
   More and more research is coming out that reveals the connection between a well-balanced diet and brainpower. Poor diets and unhealthy eating can obviously have adverse effects on your body, but your choice to eat a Snickers for lunch continually can be detrimental to your brain. Staying healthy can promote academic performance and help students reach their educational goals. Studies show there are a number of foods that help promote healthy brain function. From berries and citrus fruits to fish and nuts-be sure your student is eating regular balanced meals with a good mix of these foods to power up their brains for ACT prep and essay writing success. Harvard Health published an article discussing what foods are great for brainpower. You can read it here.
   

4. Limit Technology and Social Media Use
   There’s no need for your student to cut Instagram or Facebook out from their lives completely or go cold turkey. But students should try limiting when or how they are using social media and technology. According to Statista “Too much passive use of social media – just browsing posts – can be unhealthy and has been linked to feelings of envy, inadequacy and less satisfaction with life. Studies have even suggested that it can lead to ADHD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and sleep deprivation. “
   
   Here are some suggestions on how your student can reduce their time scrolling through social media posts:
   — Have them keep their phone out of their bedroom so it’s not the last thing they check before going to sleep or the first thing you look at in the morning.
   — Don’t use the phone half an hour before bed or for the first half an hour from waking.
   — Put the phone down on another table during meal times where you can’t reach it.
   — Challenge your teen to go a whole day without checking social media
   

5. Keep Active 
   Today’s digital world lends itself to a more sedentary lifestyle than decades before.  Where students are most likely keeping their brains active by preparing college applications, researching potential top college picks, and taking standardized tests, it’s also important to get them away from their computers and physically active. 
   
   Much like diets and sleep, exercise has a significant impact on brains and bodies. Whether it’s yoga, a long walk with a friend, or playing a game of basketball, keeping physically active will help your student lower stress levels, help improve their self-esteem and strengthen their brains. Studies show that approximately 80% of teens worldwide are not getting enough exercise. Yet it has been scientifically proven that regular physical activity does increase thinking and memorization skills. So, have your student take a break from technology and get their body moving, it might be just what they need to craft that stunning college application.