Electronic cigarettes are reported to cost anywhere between one and three thousand dollars less, per year, than a nicotine habit supported by the use of tobacco. According to manufacturers (who shall of course remain nameless, to preserve an air of impartiality), the e cigarette equivalent of 20 tobacco squares will cost you around$1.60 – saving you roughly $5 per 20 cigarette sized “hits”.

As an economist, I have to point out that this figure is skewed. Of course it is: it comes from a website promoting the sale of electric cigarettes, so it is hardly likely to be genuinely unbiased! The price quoted, $1.60 for an electronic cigarette equivalent of 20 tobacco cigarettes, is for the E Liquid capsules themselves – not for the whole device you need to smoke them.

A decent electric cigarette starter pack can cost you as much as $80, with average prices coming in between the $30-$50 range. For the sake of argument let’s call our e cigarette starter pack a nice round $50. So you need to factor $50 into your cost benefit analysis, if you are going to come out with a realistic figure.

Clearly the longer you use your electronic cigarette, the less impact that initial expenditure is going to have. After you have bought just eight packets of tobacco cigarettes at today’s average price of $6.50, you have already spent more than the $50 average we have identified for an electric cigarettes starter pack. Bearing in mind that the starter pack contains E Liquid (the stuff in the capsules, which you “smoke” when you use the e cigarette) that means that a 20 a day smoker starts saving money just one week after switching from tobacco to electric.

There are corollary savings to account for as well. Let’s start with lighters. The disposable lighter is the bane of every cigarette smoker’s life – and I might add it’s also the one most likely to be owned by a smoker ready to move onto an electronic cigarette. Serious smokers with no intention of stopping never buy disposables, just us guilty folk who want to quit but can’t.

You’d be stunned by the amount of lighters you buy every year. Or matches. Or fuel for a Zippo style lighter. However you look at it, smoking electric cigarettes, which require no ignition at all, will save you money by your not having to buy sources of flame.

So, in answer to our slightly weirdly worded title question – yes, men and women can preserve income by using the e cigarette. An average smoker can start racking up holiday sized savings within one year of quitting the cancer sticks. Add that to the feeling of self satisfaction you get, puffing away on your healthier electric cigarettes in pubs, bars and other public places, and it’s hard to see why you haven’t bought one already.

Get Regular Check-Ups

For quite possibly the first time, college students are in charge of your own health. Their parents are no longer around to schedule them a doctor’s appointment every time they’re feeling ill. However, students need to make time in their busy schedule for regular check-ups; this active approach to their health can help ensure that they remain healthy throughout the arduous school year. Most colleges have healthcare facilities on campus, or you can locate another health clinic nearby. Students should promptly get treatment for any health concerns, as a doctor can help identify and treat any emerging issues. Also they are certain to get all the necessary vaccinations before starting the school year. Take in consideration that many colleges offer flu shots at a discounted rate.

Avoid Sleep Deprivation

Quite understandably, college students tend to put sleep low on their list of priorities. But unfortunately, sleep deprivation can cause reduced brain function, an inability to concentrate, fatigue, and headaches. If sleep deprivation becomes a regular occurrence, it can even cause obesity, depression, illness, and perhaps most importantly, poor grades. In order to avoid sleep deprivation, avoid stimulants like caffeine and nicotine, and reduce distractions to sleep such as bright lights, noises, and technology. Also try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. At the very least, take regular powernaps in order to stay sufficiently rested.

Engage in Physical Activity

Find a physical activity you enjoy, whether it be jogging, dancing, intramural activities, or sports. Just keep in mind that a quality physical activity should raise your breathing and heart rates, as well as strengthen your muscles. Take full advantage of walking and biking opportunities around campus, and discover all that the student recreational center has to offer. For those students who are more “indoorsy,” try motion sensor gaming, including Wii Fit and EA Sports Active. Additionally, find friends who also want to stay active, as teaming up is a great way to stay motivated.

Eat Healthy

Now that these college students are living in the fast-paced college environment, they are more consistently turning to things like fast food, chips, and sodas? Instead, they should have three full meals and two small snacks every day. And when enjoying these regularly scheduled meals, opt for salads, vegetables, fruits, and whole grain foods. In fact, fruits and vegetables can help them stay alert and focused throughout the long school day, as they are natural sources of energy. Also select low-fat options such as grilled or baked fish, poultry, and lean meats. Moreover, keep the dorm stocked with granola bars, pretzels, rice cakes, and dry cereal, and the refrigerator should contain crunchy vegetables, low-fat dips, yogurts, and fresh fruit. Maintaining a healthy diet by eating healthy can help boost a person’s immune system and help the students maintain a healthy weight. Instead of sodas, coffee, and energy drinks, make a habit of carrying a water bottle around campus. The benefits of water cannot be overstated, and staying hydrated can help concentration, can replenish the body, and can increase energy. Caffeinated beverages may seem like they are assisting with the late-night study sessions, but realistically, they make the body crash and feel sick after their initial energy boost has passed. Additionally, college students should never skip breakfast, as studies show that people who regularly eat breakfast have a significantly higher metabolism than those who regularly skip it. And the same goes for lunch! Even if students have classes scheduled all day, they can still pack a healthy lunch and store it in your book bag. Skipping meals only hurts them nutritionally. Also avoid eating after 9 p.m. because during sleep, the body’s metabolism slows down, forcing these foods to be stored in the body as fat.

Maintain Your Mental Health

College life comes equipped with many challenges that can leave anybody mentally weakened. College students frequently suffer from anxiety and other stressors. However, a certain level of anxiety is healthy, as it helps to motivate them. And everybody feels anxious or gets stressed sometimes, but when the student cannot shake it and begins to interfere with their life, then there may be a more serious problem. Long-term stress can take a serious toll on the student’s physical and mental health. If negative feelings are infiltrating every aspect of their lives, then the student may be suffering from depression. However, there are ways to begin to combat this debilitating condition. The student should try to develop a strong support network of friends around campus, and seek advice from teachers and counselors. Secondly, they need to stay physically active, as regular activity improves mood. Trying to take short personal breaks that involve healthy activities, as exercise is an ideal way to decrease the overall stress levels. At the very least, go for a walk! Also find out if the campus offers a stress management course, or enroll in a yoga class at the campus recreational center. Although it is easier said than done, it is essential that they learn how to relax. After all, relaxation is imperative in order to maintain a healthy body and mind.

Do Not Abuse Drugs and Alcohol

Away from parental supervision for quite possibly the very first time, and faced with the challenges inherent in meeting new people, many college students begin to participate in regular alcohol and drug use. Alcohol, when drank in a large quantity, can lead to addiction or alcohol poisoning. Additionally, pervasive alcohol use is associated with dangerous behavior and poor decision-making. Abuse of illegal drugs and prescription medications is also a big problem on college campuses. For students dealing with alcoholism or drug abuse, locate the programs on campus that are there to help you. They are safe havens, and should provide the student with some valuable help. And there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people or to chill with friends without being surrounded by drugs and alcohol, including collegiate athletics, dorm-organized events, and club-oriented activities.

Protect Your Eyes

Quite possibly the last thing students worry about when cramming for exams is the health of their vision. However, students’ eyes sustain a lot of damage due to these academic pressures. Lack of sleep, prolonged computer use, and long hours of studying make for tired, dry, and achy eyes. Eyes are not designed for prolonged focus on a single object such as a computer or textbook, although this practice is entirely necessary for the successful college student. And as a result, they are apt to blink less frequently, which significantly reduces lubrication in the eye, thereby making it feel tired and dry. Remember to give the eyes an occasional break, and remember to turn away from the computer, and instead focus on something in the distance.

Utilize Regular Massage

Massage therapy is a great way to relax and reduce stress, as well as maintain physical health. Massage therapy actually decreases the amount of the stress hormone, cortisol, in the body. Massage also improves the conditioning of muscles. However, regular massage therapy appointments may be too pricey for a college student’s budget. Thankfully, there other means to obtaining a relaxing massage. Students can try to find a therapist who offers 10-minute chair massages, as these usually cost roughly a dollar per minute. Another idea is to visit a local massage therapy school and sign up for the student massage therapy program. These programs help more advanced students get the massage therapy experience they need. Look for deals for massages on discount websites. Students can also try calling around to different massage businesses to find out if they offer first-time client discounts. Finally, if a student and a friend can both learn massage techniques to perform on each other! But if hands-on training is what the student wants, many massage therapy businesses offer massage therapy classes and workshops for a nominal fee.

Marijuana: The most common drug of use is marijuana, also as known as pot, weed, grass, green etc. Marijuana is, without a doubt, the most popular widely circulated illicit drug in America and on college campuses. It has retained its popularity through decades of recreational use, and is actually legal in certain states, jurisdictions, and for medicinal use. Marijuana is so popular that 39% of the U.S. population has tried it at least once in their lives, many considering it a “safe” drug. Marijuana use is most common among young adults between the ages 18-25, with more than 16 % packing the bowl within the last month. In this age group, marijuana is most popular with in college students. Just about 30% percent of college students have used marijuana in the past year. The usual anti-Mary Jane rhetoric revolves around it being a “gateway drug” or a step towards harder and more dangerous drugs like cocaine, heroin, and hallucinogens.

Here’s how some of those “harder” drugs compare:

Cocaine: 62% of adults who had used marijuana before the age of 15 have used cocaine at some point during their lives. Cocaine is popular in college as it provides energy, confidence, and keeps you partying. Girls tend to get more promiscuous on this drug, making it a favorite hand-out from the guys. And the fact that it gets your heart-rate up and speeds up the metabolism allowing you to burn huge amounts of calories is another huge draw for the ladies.

Heroin: This drug was much bigger in the 70’s and is not a favorite amongst college students. Only 2% of university students have ever tried this drug. This makes sense, as heroin is horribly addictive and can actually destroy attention and the ability to focus on anything but one’s next high. Like the “Crack” epidemic of the 80’s, this drug is a life destroyer and should be avoided. Much more common forms of opiates being used by college students are prescription strength pain killers with a codeine base such as vicodin, oxycodone, and percosit. These are also highly addictive providing a care-free high that can ruin one’s ability to perform daily tasks.

Hallucinogens: Some of the more popular “mind expanding” hallucinogens include acid, mushrooms, and mescaline. These drugs are very popular with college students as they can open the mind to new experiences and perspectives when post adolescents are searching to find themselves. For the most part, these drugs are used infrequently as one off experiences, but when abused these can be of the most damaging to the structure of the brain and mind. While not physiologically addictive, many cases of psychological pathology and dysfunction are linked to this family of drugs, as individuals are often not ready to deal with the new realities they may encounter. From depression and anxiety to bipolar and schizophrenia, these drugs are known to trigger any predisposed pathologies that may exist in one’s genetic makeup.

In all, I would say be careful with what you experiment with. Drugs can definitely be a fun, enlightening experience. However, you don’t want to throw your college opportunities or even your entire future away for a few good highs. Whether physiologically addictive, or potentially psychologically destructive, all these drugs should be used with caution.

If you are stuck on ice or outdoor hockey, you already know it is a great way to stay fit and healthy, a great recreational activity that can give you more energy and physical activity.  Most colleges and schools have club or intramural options, hockey included, as it is important to offer some kind of sports so that the students are always fresh and can clear their minds, especially during stressful weeks and hours.

If you are serious about the game, you can become a better player in ice hockey and eventually join top teams in the United States, but not overnight. It is important to know that this is only possible if a person starts playing at a young age and consistently develops better skills through hours of training. You need to become better and faster if you want to compete against great players. Speed is important in ice hockey and you need to acquire better playing techniques and balance when in the game. The best players who play in the NHL don´t need a lot of time to go from zero to maximum speed, and the reason for this is because they trained to the point where it become a habit.

It´s about you, and how good or bad you become in ice hockey is just a matter of consistent practice and the hours that you invest into your game. You need be skating in great shape throughout training and in the real game to have a chance to score and win. You also have to know that the skating alone doesn´t make a great ice hockey player. There are more important factors such as tactical play, quick counters and great feeling for supporting other players. So what really separates good players from bad players? Definitely the ability to skate faster, play to nearly 100% accuracy and sustain a great mindset throughout a serious game. It is not only the physical shape that makes you successful, but also the mental shape. You need to get more hockey speed and power in order to have more fun during the game and eventually develop into a better player. This is the most essential aspect of ice hockey.

1)  Have a Routine

Nothing will throw off your body’s rhythm and metabolism more than lacking consistent sleep, exercise, and dietary routines.  You hear a lot about crash diets and miracle pills, but the truth is that none of them are healthy or effective for the long term.  If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.  I am not advocating the life of a robot where you can’t enjoy spontaneous nights out with drinks and food, but your daily experience should not be a random process.  Instead, you should have designated times for eating, sleeping, and studying so your life does not spiral into flux.  This type of discipline will give you a sense of ownership over your life and body and help you avoid excess stress.

2)  Don’t Binge

Weather it’s drinking or food, the binge lifestyle does not bode well for the health conscious.  No matter how much you run, exercise, or diet after the fact, the effects of binge drinking or eating on your system can not be eliminated overnight.  Avoid this excess as not only will it cause weight gain, it will throw off your body’s natural balance and metabolism, and can lead to more serious health issues if it becomes habitual.

3)  Be Active

Of course exercise is a must for a healthy lifestyle.  However, exercise need not only take place in the gym or at a your designated workout time.  Instead, try to be as active as possible during the day.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Walk to class instead of getting a ride.  Any way you can think of to burn a few extra calories in the context of your normal day is just gravy.  And if your school is in a warm place, you really have no excuse for not being active outdoors.

4)  Avoid Unnecessary Junk Food

This is a tough one, no doubt, for any college student.  You probably aren’t grocery shopping for the dorm, and its definitely a huge change from when living at home and having meals and your food choices prepared for you.  The best advice I can give here is to eat the healthy dorm food and try to avoid the unnecessary greasy stuff.  You will definitely be eating out a lot, so lean towards the wraps and salads over the burgers and pizza.  There is almost no way to eat uber-healthy or organic if you live on campus your freshman year, but you can make efforts to minimize the consumption of empty calories.

5)  Join a Team (Club or Intramural)

Exercise can be extremely boring.  On the treadmill I often feel like a hamster on the wheel, just running in place trying to get my workout over.  A good solution to this is to join a sports team, club or intramural.  You don’t need to be good at the sport, just enjoy playing it.  This is a great way to meet new people and have fun while exercising.  Unlike running or hitting the weights, you won’t even notice that you are exercising, as you will be enjoying the activity, competition, and comradery.  I play tennis and volleyball, but swimming, basketball, flag football and many other options exist at most universities.

Dear readers, I would like to start this post for an apology for not posting the last two weeks. I needed some time to reflect what I was doing with StudySuccessful and where this site is heading. Got some new ideas, one better than the other probably Got one awesome idea, where I would like to get some feedback on! Anouncement will be at the end of the post!

Feeling tired in the afternoon? After lunch maybe? Or just in general tired every once in a while. Some people are ashamed of yawning, try to cover it with their hands. ‘No, I’m not tired at all’ is a lie told often. But please, why should you be tired? Why shouldn’t you embrace your inner tired person and sleep instead. Why wouldn’t you do a quick powernap?

A Powernap is a quick nap, not more than 20 minutes. This sleep can boost your creativity, effectiveness and productivity. You won’t sleep long enough that it will effect your night sleep, but also not short enough that there is no effect.

In this post I will review an app which stimulates brain waves to get to sleep and get awake again, but in order to understand what I am talking about you need a little background about powernapping. If you are familiar with the subject already, please skip to the end of the post where I will review the app!

I’ve discussed this subject before, including a quick ‘How To Powernap’ post. Besides this, I’ve also tested something called ‘The Key Method’, where you will wake up from the falling keys from your hand. Besides this blog, I’ve also written on several other blogs, including a Dutch one. This post has been featured as well in a published book called ’175 Lifehacking Tips’.

Of course, all this knowledge doesn’t come from nowhere, I am actually a devoted napper myself, at least 4 times a week I use the power of the nap. Which makes me way more productive, way more creative and more energized in general. Yeah, I will call myself an expert. Let’s sum up real quick how you should powernap (this will be a little bit different than the other post about powernapping, as I’ve grown into a different system more).

How To Powernap – Without the App

1. Grab a glass of water, close your curtains and lie down. All important steps. You want to have a glass of water besides you when you wake up, because the cold water can refresh you. The curtains should be closed to imitate night and lying down has proven to be effective. Of course, you won’t have the luxury of all this at your office or something, but I’m sure you can come up with something neat. When I am powernapping in the library for instance (yeah I do)I just lie down on my books.
2. Set your alarm 20 minutes ahead. You will sleep within 5 minutes, this means you will have around 15 minutes sleep left. More than enough. I usually set my alarm only 16 minutes ahead, because I get to sleep quick and I feel more refreshed with a shorter nap. The thing is, when you sleep longer, you will get into another sleep phase, which means you will be in a deeper phase. This makes it not only harder to wake up, but you will feel sleepy as well when you wake up (instead of refreshed with a normal nap).
3. Sleep! Sleep, nap, enjoy!
4. Wake up, GET UP! REALLY IMPORTANT. Getting up immediatly. You don’t want to snooze off again, because this will result in more sleep, another sleep phase and a failed powernap. Get up, drink water, walk around.
5. Get going again. When I am napping in the library, I usually get up, walk to the other end of the room, go sit again and get along with my work. The short walk really gets your blood flowing again and you will feel refreshed!

That is all for the powernap, it is actually really easy!

Power Nap – An app which helps you powernapping!

One of the first things I was looking for when I got my iPhone was an app for powernapping, something with an alarm function would be sufficient. Then I stumbled on Power Nap.

Power Nap is an app which uses advanced Binaural Brainwave Entrainment – this means it stimulates brainwave frequencies to different states of minds.

The idea is really simple. You select the sound you want to hear (for instance, I use ‘ocean waves’) which is the background sound. Rain is also possible, which is a sound a lot of people like to fall asleep with. Then you will select how long you want to have this app running. As said before, I use 16 minutes. You put in both of your earplugs (necessary, because the sounds are different in both ears) and you hit play. Lie down and enjoy.

First there will be descending delta waves, which makes you go to sleep. This will be followed by constant delta waves which makes sure you stay asleep, after this you will hear ascending beta waves, which will wake you up!

The Review

After using it around 5-10 times I have come to the conclusion that the app works. I am a trained powernapper of course, so maybe it is something I do normally as well, but I will wake up around 30 seconds before the program is finished. I think this is the result from the beta waves, which will wake me up.

One of the things I love is the sound you can select. The brainwave sounds make a strange sound, a little spooky as well, but if you select another sound besides it you won’t notice it that much.

Another thing is the design, it looks like you are working with a medical program or something, that savvy. The program runs a little slow, but it works!

Concluding thoughts and a request!

Powernapping is something I’ve been doing for a long time (almost two years now) and it is definitly something I love to do. There have been changes in how I do it, there have been different insights as well during my journey! For instance with the new app now, this will change the way I powernap! I can induce the sleepiness easier now.

I have a request for you. As you probably learned during this post powernapping is something I love to do and love to learn more about. I want questions/experiences! Have you ever done a powernap? What were your experiences with it? Do you think I should try a different approach? Share it! I would love to learn more about this subject, so I need questions! I will answer them, probably in upcoming posts, so make sure to send them!

Special anouncement

Every day I get questions from readers and everyday I try to answer these questions. But in one way or the other I feel like doing this isn’t enough. Because when one person has a question about something, someone else will be stuck with that question as well. That is why I would like to answer more questions to the audience. And there is only one way to do this easily and good. With a podcast.

This is the anouncement, I will start a podcast. One of the reasons of the silence last weeks was reflecting on this idea. The idea is simple. Once in every two weeks or so I will pick a question which is asked a lot and I will discuss this in front of a microphone. Nothing more, nothing less. This will be published on iTunes, so you can subscribe to the podcast. It should be a low-treshold podcast, which will motivate and inspire you. I like to listen to podcasts when I am running or something and I couldn’t find one about successful studying. StudySuccessful will fill this gap!

Share your thoughts on this idea! And share your questions of course, because I will need some content! Hope you are as enthusiast as I am!

Finances and pregnancy are said to be the top two stressors and can become troublesome if not handled correctly. Managing college, along with the stress, can be done by remembering a few important details along the way:

Finances

Financial stress is pretty high in college life due to the simple fact that many students are paying for tuition on their own. Sharing living space with a roommate or partner can add moving expenses to the financial burden if a conflict can’t be resolved in any other way. An unexpected pregnancy will also undoubtedly change your financial state for the future and can add to the stress of college. Try these financial stress management tips:

• Manage your money by minimizing unnecessary purchases. While you are shopping, simply ask yourself if it is a vital purchase. If the answer is no, just keep walking.
• Don’t rely on credit cards as a means to relieve the financial stress. Many students think a credit card is an answer when it really causes more problems in the long run. Steer clear, if you can.
• Start a savings account in addition to a checking account for bill paying. Save as much as possible for rainy-day expenses and the unknown, like having a new baby or moving to an apartment.

Pregnancy

Although it’s an exciting time, the early stages of pregnancy can cause fatigue and stress for young women in college. Whether it’s planned or unplanned, pregnancy holds a bit of stress for every woman. The excitement and anxiety of the unknown can cause stress during college unless you know a few tactics for managing it. Three good ones are listed here:

• Consider switching to a community college. The classes may be less frequent and less expensive than a traditional, four-year institution. This can help you to not feel overwhelmed in the early stages of pregnancy and can save a considerable amount of money. Once your child is born, you’ll need every penny.
• When possible, eat nutritious meals for extra energy. College demands are enormous and can sometimes make eating a well balanced meal seem impossible. You owe it to yourself and your growing baby to eat right.
• Get the proper amount of sleep to reduce some of the stress. Your mind may be racing with thoughts of juggling classes, college pressures and the budding little one. With an adequate amount of rest, your mind will be more at ease.
• Take advantage of deals where possible. There’s a new group buying site especially for parents (by Parents.com) called Parents Deals… so if you’re looking to save money, this is an excellent place to start. You can also peruse general sites like Groupon and LivingSocial.

Being young men or women in college is tremendously stressful on its own. When life throws you additional stressors, you can battle them with the suggested tips above. Knowing how to handle them will allow you to graduate from college with your sanity intact.

Many other strategies can be used for managing college with life’s stressors, whether it is the early stages of pregnancy or managing your money. When you find yourself faced with overwhelming stress, how do you handle and overcome it?

1. Instead of wasting gas (and gas money) idling at stop lights on the way to the grocery store, drive to the store at night or at least not during rush hour.  Try getting your grocery shopping done once a week and stock up.
2. Stock up on fruit and any veggies you don’t mind eating raw, like carrots or cucumbers.  Fewer things are easier to take to class than an apple, pear, or banana (you can even slice them up before class and stick them in a reusable plastic container—avoid paper bags or anything you’re going to throw away after one use, which is like throwing money into a landfill).
3. With the fruit you’ve stocked up, consider whipping up a yogurt smoothie.  Plain, nonfat yogurt is a great source of calcium, and if you blend some frozen berries and bananas, you’re ready to go.  This, of course, necessitates a food processor in your dorm, but it’s a worthy investment that in the long run will save you trips to fast food chains for their overpriced (and over-sugared) smoothies.  To make the process quicker, cut up the desired fruits the night before and freeze them overnight; blend in the morning in your reusable glass or ceramic travel mug.
4. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a little overplayed in college, but it sure is cheap.  Add some variety to this old fashioned favorite by adding a drizzle of honey or sliced bananas instead of jelly.  Plus, both varieties contain loads of vitamins, minerals, and protein.
5. Oatmeal is another food that most people scrunch their noses at.  This mushy, typically bland food doesn’t have to be boring, though.  Add bananas, blueberries, cranberries, honey, chocolate chunks, or even whipped cream (or any combination of the above) to get all the fiber and health benefits of oatmeal without the blah.  Tip: cook your microwaveable oatmeal with milk or soy/almond milk instead of water for added calcium and taste.
6. 6. Don’t buy bottled water.  The plastic ends up costing CO2 even if you recycle, and fresh ground water is one of the biggest commodities privatized businesses are getting their claws on these days.  Instead, buy one ceramic, glass, or certain kinds of plastic.  Look on the bottom of your plastic bottle or thermos and check out the numbers: 1,2,4, and 5 are okay and won’t leach creepy chemicals called BPA (Bisphenol A suspected of having adverse affects on the thyroid, dopaminergic system, and neurological system).  If your Nalgeen contains plastics 3, 6, or 7, however, recycle and stay away.
7. Similarly, don’t buy “bad” plastic food containers, and stay away from paper plates and cups, too.  Instead, invest in just a handful of proper ceramic plates, mugs, and steel utensils that you can wash in the sink at the end of every day (or, more realistically, every week).  You’ll spend a little more money that you’d want at first, but you’ll make up that money in no time.
8. Take a reusable bag to the grocery store.   You can even sew out of an old t-shirt if you’re the crafty type.  Plastic bags are the bane of the green community.

Thumbnail Image:  MD Anderson’s Focused on Health

Although drugs like Adderall and Ritalin may have their benefits, they are far too often prescribed and abused, in my opinion. While I am no doctor and cannot give medical advice, I avoid taking pills as much as I can. Instead, I opt for a more natural approach.

Science has shown that brain function can be increased by means of a nutritious diet and certain foods. Here are 12 of the best foods for your brain. Start incorporating these into your diet and see how much your focus and memory improve.

1. Coffee

A favorite among early risers, coffee can help you to feel more alert and focused. Caffeine, a substance found in coffee, is responsible for these feelings of focus and alertness. Try a cup next time you have some homework to get done, and see if you concentrate better. (If you can’t stand coffee, try drinking black or green tea instead. Although not quite as caffeine-heavy as coffee, tea is a great substitute for a cup of joe).

Image Credit: dimnikolov

2. Salmon

Fish like Salmon is loaded with brain boosting omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats have been linked to increase memory. When buying fish, opt for wild caught salmon, opposed to farmed. Wild Salmon have higher levels of omega-3′s and aren’t fattened on an unhealthy diet of grain-feed.

Image Credit: avlxyz

3. Whole-Grains

Replace all of the “white-grains” in your diet with Vitamin E rich whole-grain breads, pastas, and crackers. Vitamin E is thought to aid cognitive function as you age. The fiber in whole-grains also works to increase blood flow through the body and to the brain,which allows nutrients to more easily reach the brain. Another beneficial nutrient in whole-grains is vitamin B12, which increases your ability to focus.

Image Credit: Little Blue Hen

4. BlueBerries

Long hailed as an antioxidant “king”, blueberries are the perfect snack to carry along to the library. The antioxidants found in blueberries are thought to increase mental capacity. Blueberries have also been linked to a reduce in age-related ilness.

Image Credit: angeloangelo

5. Nuts

All kinds of nuts are filled with brain-enhancing chemicals that contribute to a crisp mind. For example, almonds contain phenylalanine, which improves cognitive performance.

Image Credit: s58y

6. Eggs

Start your day off by scrambling a couple of eggs, and you’re setting yourself up for a good day of learning. Choline, an essential nutrient found in eggs, has shown to be essential for brain development.

Image Credit: avlxyz

7. Seeds

There are many types of seeds on the market. Ty flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds to reap the benefits of a clearer mind. From the omega-3′s in flax, to the Vitamin B in pumpkin seeds, both work to improve the function of your mind.

Image Credit: dmSwart

8.  Oysters

To keep your mind from wandering, add some slippery shellfish into your diet. Oysters are rich in zinc and iron, which have both been linked to better mental performance.

Image Credit: Allerina & Glen MacLarty

Food, a Powerful Medicine

It’s amazing how a few simple changes in your eating habits can completely change the way you feel and function. The power of foods is greatly underestimated in a society that so heavily depends on prescriptions for every ailment. So, next time you think about taking a drug to help you study, just remember the age old advice from Hippocrates and, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food“.

For many people, not just college students, attempting to fall asleep can be a battle against the waking world. Laying in bed awake for hours trying to get some shut-eye can be super disappointing. If you frequently find ourself having trouble sleeping and counting sheep won’t cut it, try some of these methods next time you’re laying in bed awake.

• Body Levitation
• Hypnogogic Exploration
• Story Authoring
• The Sinking Mattress
• Word Scrambling

These are just a few of the methods to help you travel to an alternate reality. For a complete list of sleeping tips, head on over to SleepingTricks.com. The website does a terrific job of explaining how to best execute each method of falling asleep.

Image Credit: Ella Mullins

What do you do when you are having trouble falling asleep?