Healthy Living • YMCA Youth Programs
The easiest thing you can do to boost your grades
15 March 2016 - by Nicole Meredith
With exams right around the corner, you want your body and brain to be in tip-top shape so you can focus on studying. The best thing you can do?
Have a glass of water.
Studies show that adequate hydration helps you focus, reduces stress, stabilizes your mood, improves your problem-solving abilities, and helps you stay motivated. On the flip side, dehydration can cause sleepiness, headaches, nausea, and reduced cognitive functioning.
To avoid these symptoms, follow these tips to get into the healthy habit of hydrating consistently:
Downing an entire glass of water after your workout can actually dehydrate you. Your body interprets the rush as an overload, and works to get rid of what it thinks is "excess" water as fast as possible. Instead, take small sips of water regularly, throughout the entire day.
To enjoy the full benefits water has to offer, you need to drink at least two litres or eight glasses every day. Measure the amount of water that fits in your favourite bottle, and get into the healthy habit of carrying it with you everywhere. By keeping track of how many bottles you drink, you'll be able to make sure you hit your daily quota.
Sugary juices, soda pop, tea, coffee, and milk don't work as stand-ins for water. In fact, sugar and caffeine are dehydrating. If you have any of these drinks, make sure to compensate by increasing your water intake.
Your body loses more water than usual when you sleep and when you sweat. That means you need to drink more water during and after your workout, and when you first wake up. A few extra sips will do - remember, no gulping!
Most of us are willing to go to great lengths to get good grades, but the truth is, there are some simple solutions that put you in an ideal frame of mind for studying and exam-writing. Putting in the small effort to hydrate consistently will have a huge payoff for your GPA!
Have a glass of water.
Studies show that adequate hydration helps you focus, reduces stress, stabilizes your mood, improves your problem-solving abilities, and helps you stay motivated. On the flip side, dehydration can cause sleepiness, headaches, nausea, and reduced cognitive functioning.
To avoid these symptoms, follow these tips to get into the healthy habit of hydrating consistently:
1. Sip - don't gulp!
Downing an entire glass of water after your workout can actually dehydrate you. Your body interprets the rush as an overload, and works to get rid of what it thinks is "excess" water as fast as possible. Instead, take small sips of water regularly, throughout the entire day.
2. Measure your intake
To enjoy the full benefits water has to offer, you need to drink at least two litres or eight glasses every day. Measure the amount of water that fits in your favourite bottle, and get into the healthy habit of carrying it with you everywhere. By keeping track of how many bottles you drink, you'll be able to make sure you hit your daily quota.
3. Don't make substitutions
Sugary juices, soda pop, tea, coffee, and milk don't work as stand-ins for water. In fact, sugar and caffeine are dehydrating. If you have any of these drinks, make sure to compensate by increasing your water intake.
4. Watch the time
Your body loses more water than usual when you sleep and when you sweat. That means you need to drink more water during and after your workout, and when you first wake up. A few extra sips will do - remember, no gulping!
Most of us are willing to go to great lengths to get good grades, but the truth is, there are some simple solutions that put you in an ideal frame of mind for studying and exam-writing. Putting in the small effort to hydrate consistently will have a huge payoff for your GPA!
