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Study tips to help you through the chills of the cold season

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Winter is almost here. The days are becoming shorter, and there is a definite chill in the air. Inclement weather hardly encourages diligent and concentrated study - but work cannot stop with the passing of the few warm and sunny days we are granted. Coursework can`t be put on hold because gloves and scarves are back in use; and upcoming exams cannot be ignored because the radiators are rattling with their seasonal chorus.
With this in mind, the following tips may be helpful in motivating you to combat any autumn apathy, and encourage you to work just as hard as you have during the summer months.

1. Exercise

If you were loathed to go for a jog even on a warm summer`s day, why would you want to leave the comfort of your home, and face the biting weather outside? Numerous studies attest to the brain-boosting power exercise provides. Having trouble working through a seemingly intractable maths problem? A jog round the block may well help you overcome this mental block. If nothing else it will leave you refreshed, buzzing with endorphins, and ready to tackle your studies with a fresh mind.

2. Consume warm and comforting study food

Whatever the weather may be, it is essential you are well fed before beginning your studies. If you are hungry you will literally lack the brain power to deal with difficult concepts. The brain uses more energy than any other organ in the body - its synaptic activities account for 20% of calories consumed. The last thing you want is to settle down for a couple of hours of work with an empty stomach.
During the Autumn and Winter months hearty and warming food will well prepare you for getting down to work. A big bowl of nourishing soup is the perfect meal to get yourself ready to tackle difficult study topics.

3. Motivate yourself through the cold with occasional rewards

As it gets dark earlier, it may be difficult to remain motivated and get down to work. For many people serotonin levels drop during the winter season, leading to depleted energy, and low mood. To combat this seasonal malaise, you could try granting yourself rewards based on how much work you complete. After two hours of work you might permit yourself some time freely browsing the internet as recompense for your labours. Another motivation could be allowing yourself a break once you understand a certain topic. Just be sure to set strict limits on your `recess,` for otherwise you may find yourself being too generous with your rewards. Twenty minutes break for two hours of study may be a fair ratio - just be sure to stick to your schedule, as it is all too easy to watch `just one more video,` or `play just one more game,` and find your break time exceeding your study time.

4. Ensure you get plenty of rest

The early sunsets and sunrises associated with autumn and winter can play havoc with your body`s circadian rhythm. This is the `internal clock` each of us posses, which helps to regulate our sleep-wake cycle. This cycle is largely regulated by the time of sunrise and sunset, and during winter can be disrupted by people retaining their summer sleeping habits, going to sleep long after sunset, and rising long after sunrise. This disruption can lead to poor sleep, and subsequent problems studying. To combat this diligent students should strive to correlate their sleeping-waking schedule to the time the sun rises and sets.

5. Consume refreshing beverages!

Ensuring one remains hydrated may be a more pedestrian maxim - but still, the fortifying power of tea (and coffee) should not be overlooked. During the cold season a warming drink can be a real comfort, a companion even during long study sessions, with each sip refreshing the mind and palate in equal measure!

2 years ago
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