• Your one stop for college news and resources!
Navigating Health Management in College: Tips for New Students

Navigating Health Management in College: Tips for New Students

It can be overwhelming when you first show up to college, learning your new schedule, passing your classes, and making new friends. Still, you also need to manage your health to stay mentally and physically ready to tackle the next four years of intense study. Here are some guidelines to help as you adjust to college.

Find Time To Eat Right And Exercise

When you first get to college, it can be tempting to splurge at the school cafeteria and eat unhealthy snacks when it seems like you only have five minutes per meal. However, you owe it to yourself to eat better so you can feel more fulfilled over time. Fast foods and trans fats may sound appetizing, but they can make you feel sluggish when you need to be energetic. When you eat a healthy diet full of nuts, vegetables, whole grains, and plenty of water, you’ll stay fit, be more active, and have better concentration in class.

Eating healthy may seem tough on a tight schedule, but there are many ways that you can eat a solid diet while in college. Find a way to eat something healthy for breakfast every morning, be it a piece of fruit, single-serve oatmeal, or hard-boiled eggs. When you get a chance to sit down for a meal, make it worthwhile by adding extra vegetables, avoiding rich sauces, and skipping soda when possible.

It’s also vital that you get up and exercise whenever you can. When you’re on your own at college, spending all your time relaxing around the dorm is tempting, but you must be careful. There are risks to being a couch potato, including poor blood circulation, back problems, and stress in the neck. Finding a way to exercise in college can mean walking to your classes instead of driving your car or the bus. During lunch or between classes, try to get to the school gym, where you can lift light weights, run on the treadmill, and practice strength training exercises like lunges, squats, and pushups.

Maintaining Your Mental Health Is Essential

College can be stressful, especially when you’re new and still trying to get the lay of the land. The key is not to take on too much. You may want to volunteer and get a part-time job, but it’s wise to wait until you get used to the routine of your classes, or you may quickly become burned out. If you’re stressed because you don’t think you’ll meet people, go to on-campus events like pep rallies and study groups, and you’ll likely make connections.

Once you get used to the flow of college, you can incorporate strategies into your routine to ease your mind. If there’s a park nearby, consider going on nature hikes before or after your classes. Studies have shown that spending time in nature two hours per week can help you to feel more at ease and happy with life.

There’s a lot of hustle and bustle at college, so sometimes you may need to step aside and spend some time alone to ease your mind. Exercising early in the morning or practicing yoga can give you time to be alone with your thoughts so you can prepare your mind for a busy day. Meditation is another option because it can help you to relax and focus. Once you get in the habit, you may find that you can study more efficiently and find it easier to recall information during tests. If you don’t know how to meditate or need help, look for apps online, such as The Mindfulness App and Stop, Think, & Breathe.

Get Help When You Need It

Finally, although it may take time to build up a dependable group of friends at college, know that you are never truly alone.

If you need help with medical needs, reach out to a local physician. You can also go online and use a telehealth app. There are numerous health conditions that an online doctor can treat. They can help you diagnose common issues like cold and flu symptoms. If your throat is tight or you’re coughing a lot, the doctor could troubleshoot to see if you have conditions like asthma. Online doctors can even help with vision and hearing issues via the computer.

Online doctors can also provide mental health and counseling services, so never be afraid to reach out for help. If it’s not an online doctor, then call a campus support group or speak to your guidance counselor.

Be Responsible With Your Records

When you’re at college, having medical records and your health history on hand when you need it is important. Providing accurate data when visiting the doctor is vital so they can properly diagnose. However, you may not need to keep every piece of paper you receive, especially if it doesn’t provide value or it’s turning into clutter in your small dorm. When you’re done with a document, you can’t just throw it away, or criminals can use it to commit identity fraud, so consider shredding it instead.

Shredding services are becoming more common over time, and you can choose to drop off your paperwork at a shredding facility or have a mobile shredder come to you. Your shredding choice may come down to price, in which case the drop-off option would be about $1 per pound of paper, while the average for mobile shredding is $130-$150. Your choice will depend on how much shredding you need and if you can get to a facility.

Conclusion

Consuming a healthy diet and starting an exercise routine may not be the first things you think about when getting to school, but they’re important nonetheless. Get a good routine going right away, and you can thrive for the rest of your college career.

SEE ALSO: How to Choose the Right Student Housing in the U.S.

Learning to Cope: Six Wellness Activities for College Students

Learning to Cope: Six Wellness Activities for College Students

There is no way around it. Being a college student can be stressful. There is constant pressure to get good grades, impress your instructors, and work towards a bright future. When you are on your own and away from home, it is easy to try and cope with stress through unhealthy behaviors like drinking or hanging out with a bad crowd. However, it is important to manage that stress in a healthy way. We’re here to tell you that there are many wellness activities that you can try that can help to quell some of that unwanted anxiety. Consider some of these helpful tips and see what works for you.

1. Look Inside Yourself

The first activity that you should try is to take an honest look inside of yourself and decide if you are becoming mentally drained or burned out. Sometimes, something as simple as your college major could cause you stress. Recent research shows that some of the most stressful majors are education, psychology, and science. So, if you are entering one of those programs, then you need to already have a plan of action to maintain your mental health.

Sometimes, we may try to convince ourselves that we are happy, but inside, we may be struggling. The first step is to understand the signs of burnout, which can include trouble concentrating, reduced energy, or a general lack of motivation. If you notice that you’re having consistent issues, then you should try one of the activities below.

2. Get Creative

It is not uncommon to focus on your schoolwork so intently that you forget to take breaks and rest your mind. As a solution, consider intertwining your work with some new creative hobbies to get you back on track. There are many fun hobbies that can help with your memory and concentration, including painting, playing a musical instrument, and learning to knit and crochet.

These hobbies can be helpful because they allow you to put schoolwork aside while you do something that you enjoy. It is easy to get lost in a painting or to fall in love with playing the trumpet and watch as your anxieties melt away. Playing an instrument has also been found to reduce cognitive decline. So, if your school has a band, consider joining.

3. Go Out With Your Friends

Another way to get the healthy mental breaks that you deserve is by going out and keeping up with your social life. Getting out of the dorm and meeting up with friends is a great way to do something completely different and take your mind off of your work for a few hours. Plus, your friends likely have similar issues, so you can talk with them and learn the methods that they use to handle their stress.

Consider the idea of combining your school work with your social life by forming a study group where you can meet up, attend to your studies, and improve your social skills along the way.

4. Spend Time With Animals

Many people deal with their stress by adopting a pet. A dog or cat will act as a constant companion that will give you a purpose and a sense of responsibility. Since many colleges may not allow pets in the dorms, you can try a different approach.

Look online and see if there is a stable or equestrian center nearby and ask if you can ride or work with the horses. There are many benefits to riding horses. Among them is the ability to strengthen your core, legs, and back as you ride. Horses can also have a very calming presence for people, and riding through the wilderness can bring you back to a more natural place where your worries can drift away. If you are able to care for one of the horses, then you could also get a sense of routine and companionship that can help you to ease your mind.

5. Get Your Feelings Out

If you don’t find healthy ways to cope with your stress, then your anxieties can escalate over time. A good way to find peace is to get your feelings out. If you have mild stress, then you can clean up your mindset by talking to a friend or consider journaling. Writing all of your feelings out can do wonders for your psyche. The best time to do so is before bed. By writing out your anxiety and stress of the day, you can get it out of your system and ensure that you get a good night’s rest.

6. Reach Out for Help

Finally, if you try the activities above as well as your own relaxation methods but you are still feeling stressed, then you may want to join a group or speak to a professional. The fact is that if you are feeling mentally drained or upset, you are not alone. Student mental health is a priority on many campuses these days, so school officials are making it a point to provide services that can help young people in need. Look at local bulletin boards, speak to your resident advisor, or talk to your counselor about groups on campus that can help.

In the end, if you are a student who is coping with anxiety at school, then know that you are not alone. Consider the activities discussed here, and seek extra help if you need it so you can thrive during your college career.

SEE ALSO: Five Scams Targeting College Students and How to Avoid Them

Ways College Students Can Manage Academic Fatigue & Burnout

Ways College Students Can Manage Academic Fatigue & Burnout

Recent statistics on student stress are disheartening. Many catch our eye, but this is especially alarming: “39.1% of college students in the U.S. report feeling well-rested for only one or two days a week.” And 19.5% don’t feel rested at all.

There’s no way college students can be at their best, not getting adequate rest. And it’s no wonder academic fatigue and burnout are hitting them harder than ever. If we don’t address it now, the performance of college students will continue to diminish, and their futures will hang in limbo.

If you’re experiencing academic fatigue, stress, and burnout, these four tips can help you get to the other side.

Know When You’re Experiencing Burnout

University of the People defines academic burnout as “a negative emotional, physical and mental reaction to prolonged study that results in exhaustion, frustration, lack of motivation and reduced ability in school.”

Understanding the definition of general burnout is also critical. You don’t want to overlook a burnout diagnosis just because school isn’t what’s making you feel burnt out. The three criteria for a burnout diagnosis include:

  1. Severe lack of energy and complete exhaustion
  2. Feeling mentally distanced or increasingly negative about one’s job
  3. Diminished effectiveness in one’s role

Whether you’re experiencing general burnout or its subset academic burnout, you need to be able to pinpoint when you’re experiencing it so that you can manage it. If you’re encountering any, all, or a combination of the below symptoms for a prolonged period, academic fatigue or burnout is likely the culprit:

  • Your creative spark is gone
  • Your attendance is suffering
  • Your body is simply exhausted
  • You can’t concentrate in class
  • You’re more irritable and frustrated
  • You’re missing deadlines more often
  • Sitting through a lecture is nearly impossible
  • You’ve lost confidence in the work you’re producing
  • There’s a spike in feelings of anxiety and/or depression
  • You’re no longer interested in participating in discussions and group projects

It’s important to note that burnout can overlap with other mental health conditions. For example, you could be losing your creative spark and energy because of depression. Or you could be more irritable, frustrated, and lack confidence because of an anxiety disorder.

With this in mind, separating burnout from other mental health challenges is vital to getting better.

Be Intentional When Choosing Classes and Your Schedule

College students are known to take on more than they should when choosing classes, whether to graduate earlier, have a better shot at an internship, or something else entirely. In addition, getting into specific courses can be so competitive that many students will take, say, the 7 a.m. class even though they know they aren’t morning people.

Taking too many classes and choosing the wrong times to take them can lead to high levels of stress that ultimately result in academic fatigue and burnout.

It’s much better for your health and educational success to be intentional when choosing classes and your schedule. Really take the time to select courses you’ll enjoy and engage in. Now, you won’t enjoy every class. So, supplement the ones you don’t care for but have to take with those you’re excited about.

And be sure to put together a schedule you can maintain. For example, don’t go for early morning classes if you know you do your best work in the afternoon and vice versa. Also, figure out the best way to spread courses throughout the week to ensure you’re accommodating how you learn, study, and live.

Grow Real Relationships With Your Professors

Good for you if you’re lucky enough never to experience academic fatigue and burnout. But for those that do, having good relationships with professors can help make the experience much more manageable.

You know those office hours your professor tells you about on the first day of class? Unfortunately, not nearly enough students use them to their advantage. But you should. Use office hours to develop genuine relationships with your professors.

Commit to getting together with your professors at least once a week. Not only can they help you with any challenges you’re having with coursework, but professors also encourage students to use office hours to talk about things other than school, burnout, and academic fatigue included.

When you have a strong relationship with your professors, you’ll be more inclined to be transparent about what you’re going through. And together, you can develop a plan to simplify school and life.

Put a Plan in Place for Recovery

You’re burnt out, and academic fatigue has gotten the best of you. What do you do? Well, first, don’t panic. Most students will experience burnout at some point. Already having a plan to recover from it will fast-track you getting back to yourself and your studies.

The first step is putting the books down and taking a break. Then, do something that you’re passionate about. And for the long term, focus on boosting your energy levels healthily. For instance, incorporate a self-care routine in your day. Drink more water than anything else. Cut down on your caffeine and alcohol consumption. Exercise regularly too.

Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to do, understand, and manage all that comes with college on your own. Burnout and academic fatigue will be right around the corner if you do.

Instead, lean on your relationships with your professors for support. Choose classes and schedules strategically. And finally, know the signs of burnout and put a plan in place to recover from it.

SEE ALSO: Common Problems When Writing Your Assignments

4 Ways College Students Can Pursue Self-Improvement

4 Ways College Students Can Pursue Self-Improvement

College is an opportunity to obtain a degree that can propel you forward in your career, but it’s also much more than that. For example, the college experience can be a foundation for self-improvement.

Self-improvement is essential for developing a healthy relationship with yourself, growing your skillset, and ensuring you step into post-grad life prepared and confident. Ultimately, self-improvement puts college students on a path to living more fulfilled lives.

College students can pursue self-improvement and reap the benefits mentioned above by doing these four things.

1. Learn New Skills

College won’t teach you everything you need to know to succeed. Still, you must learn as much as possible for real self-improvement. Therefore, it’s essential to develop skills that have nothing to do with your coursework in ways that aren’t fostered between your college’s walls.

Start with online tools for self-improvement. For example, there are various educational videos to choose from on YouTube. You can use Khan Academy’s free academic network, connect with other learners, and pick from thousands of video lessons. E-books and social media platforms like Clubhouse are also excellent self-education resources.

You may have to learn new skills in your free time, and it may be little by little. However, it’s essential to truly improve.

2. Prioritize Health and Wellness

A little over 40% of college students navigate depression and anxiety symptoms. And, unfortunately, 75% of them won’t seek treatment.

Moreover, college students are known for poor diets, irregular sleeping habits, excessive alcohol consumption, and improperly balanced exercise — all of which lead to poor physical health. Poor mental and physical health only impedes self-improvement.

Bettering yourself requires you to hyperfocus on health and wellness. Take care of your physical body by exercising regularly and eating well, both of which also help naturally regulate your hormones. See your primary care physician and any specialists regularly to ensure your internal organs are functioning correctly and your muscles and bones are in good shape.

You must nurture your mental health in college, too. Make self-care a part of your everyday routine. Manage your stress levels. Ensure you have a life outside of school. Get out into nature, practice mindfulness, and pursue your passions. If you need an extra layer of support, enlist the help of a therapist or counsellor. When you prioritize your health and wellness, it’ll be easier to make self-improvement constant.

3. Work on Your Mindset

Mindset is everything. If your mindset is inherently negative, you’ll see the world through that lens and conduct yourself in a way rooted in hesitancy, doubt, and fear.

On the other hand, when your mindset is intrinsically positive, it’s much easier to accept and navigate the tough things life throws at you, which builds character and resilience. You’re also more likely to genuinely appreciate the good and keep building on it.

You can work on your mindset by:

  • Journaling;
  • Facing your fears;
  • Listening to empowering podcasts;
  • Listing what you’re grateful for each day;
  • Committing to positive internal dialogue;
  • Surrounding yourself with good people;
  • Stepping out of your comfort zone often;
  • Reading self-help and self-improvement literature;
  • Participating in meditation and mindfulness activities;
  • Interrupting negative thought patterns with positive ones;
  • Showing yourself grace and understanding during hard times.

Even if you are swamped with college work, it is important to carve out time to take care of yourself. Working some of these tips into your routine can only benefit your performance in the long run, because you’ll be less likely to become burnt out.

4. Stay On Top of Your Finances

When it comes to college student spending, you’re usually on a tight budget. However, the majority of students use their limited money on eating out, buying clothes, and stocking up on snacks.

One of the worst things college students can do is put themselves in a financial bind. You need money to live. You also need it to advance and improve. Bad spending habits and a lack of financial literacy won’t allow you to do either. Instead, an unhealthy relationship with money incites constant stress and anxiety.

Reduce financial stress in college so you can live comfortably and pursue self-improvement opportunities. Create a budget and stick to it. Minimize frivolous spending. Keep growing your financial literacy so you’re ready to make mindful investments in the future.

In addition, financial information and other confidential documents have a lot of personal information on them. Thus, it’s essential to protect your identity and safeguard your information.

Keep your personal information in a secure place only accessible to you. It may be uncommon to shred items in college, but flash drives, receipts, or mail should be taken care of in that way.

This will help ensure none of your personal data is leaked or acquired by someone who shouldn’t have it. You don’t need that stress on top of everything else, and it will prepare you for handling sensitive information in the future. Keep your finances organized, accurate, and protected so you can build a solid financial foundation that enhances your self-improvement efforts for years to come.

There are obvious reasons for everyone to pursue self-improvement. College students, in particular, can benefit tremendously from a continuous effort to improve themselves. Not only will your college experience be more valuable, but you’ll also be prepared to step into post-grad life with purpose and confidence. Start with the tips above to prioritize self-improvement.

SEE ALSO: College Dating: 5 Ways to find Love on Campus

Adulting 101: Preparing for Your Post-grad Life

Adulting 101: Preparing for Your Post-grad Life

The days leading up to your college graduation are equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. On the one hand, you are thrilled about the idea of using the knowledge that you gained during your schooling in a new career that can help you become the professional you desire to be. On the other hand, after several years of having room and board and only needing to focus on your studies, it can be scary to realize that you will soon be out in the real world.

While it seems daunting at first, you can live a happy and productive life after college if you make the right preparations and get your mind in the right space. Consider these tips for staying healthy, finding a job, and relocating to a great place to live post-graduation.

Start Taking Care of Your Health

While some students watch their weight and exercise throughout their college years, others may not have had the time. That’s normal, but you might be feeling as though you need to present your best self to accomplish your goals. You can get into the habit of exercising every day by waking up early before your first class and getting 20 minutes of cardio or light weights. Not only will you start a healthy routine and feel better, but exercise can help to clear your mind so you can finish your final classes with ease.

Many students also live a more sedentary lifestyle during their college years, and they don’t always have the healthiest diet. It is also not uncommon for many young people to drink a lot of alcohol during this time. It’s a good idea to wean yourself off of beer and binge drinking. If you continue to drink after college, you can experience health problems, including increasing your chance of liver disease, stroke, and malnutrition.

Excessive drinking affects your body in other ways, such as weakening your immune system. Sick days are few and far between after you graduate college, so stay ahead of the game. Alcohol can also lead to weight gain, thwarting your efforts to stay physically fit.

Leaving college can be a bit stressful, so you also need to ensure that you protect your mental health. Take walks and breathe fresh air whenever possible. Get plenty of sunlight because vitamin D can put you at ease. If you are especially worried about graduating then you should talk to a professional therapist. This can be virtually or even through your school, but don’t be afraid to seek the support you need to feel better about your future.

Start Your Job Search

Even if you have not yet graduated, it is still a good idea to start your job search or at least look at the opportunities that may be out there. This way, you’ll have a good jumping-off point once you leave school. You can take little steps today, including starting a LinkedIn page where you mention your college major. While you are there, start to find connections at your school and introduce yourself. You may be able to reconnect with those individuals when it is time to find a job after graduation.

This is also a good time to start building your resume. Since you likely have not yet had a job that connects to your college major, you can instead focus on listing the current skills that you can bring to an organization post-graduation. Try to focus on leadership skills, organizational skills, and soft skills. For example, your sense of empathy will help you better understand the needs and desires of future clients.

You can also take this time to get your foot in the door of a company you would like to work for after college. Start by researching career fairs in your neighborhood. Research the businesses that will be there so you are knowledgeable when you introduce yourself. You can also contact companies and ask about potential internship opportunities. You may not be paid in these positions, but if you impress the management, then you could get hired down the road. There are many online letter templates available that can help you stand out when contacting these companies.

Look at Potential Places To Live

Since you will need to leave the dorms when you graduate college, you will want to start looking for a place to live. If the only option is to live with your parents, then that’s okay. Living at home allows you to have the services that you require and to save money for when you eventually move out on your own. Plus, with the safety net afforded by your parents, you could even try to start your own business and take bigger risks in your search for success.

If living with your parents is not an option, then you will need to look at other options for yourself. If you have a potential job lined up, then you should look for apartments that are nearby, so you don’t have a long commute. Even if you cannot live in your childhood home, you should live close so you can stop by when necessary to have a family meal or do some laundry.

When looking at potential neighborhoods, you should also research important factors such as the economy and crime statistics. If you are a member of a specific community, then you will want to do this and other research that lets you know the atmosphere of the potential locale. Some of the best cities for LGBTQIA+ folks, for example, include West Hollywood, CA., Austin, TX., and Providence, RI. These places don’t have as many issues with housing discrimination, and there is a higher presence of queer-owned and queer-friendly businesses. If you want to move to a welcoming neighborhood, look for similar signs that you are choosing the right place.

As you can see, there are many steps that you can take to make the transition from college to the real world as easy and comfortable as possible. Consider these tips and tactics, and you’ll feel better in the years to come.

SEE ALSO: 3 Tips for Realistically Starting a Business in College

Which Colleges are Best for Psychology?

Will This Antidepressant Work for You? A Brain Scan May Reveal the Answer

A new study of more than 300 people with major depression found that brain wave patterns predicted which ones were most likely to respond to antidepressants, in this case the drug sertraline also known as Zoloft.

This small step toward understanding treatment for depression was reported on Monday in the journal Nature Biotechnology. If the approach pans out, it could offer better care for the millions of people in the U.S. with major depression.

“This is definitely a step forward,” said Michele Ferrante, who directs the computational psychiatry and computational neuroscience programs at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Right now, “one of our great frustrations is that when a patient comes in with depression we have very little idea what the right treatment for them is,” said Dr. Amit Etkin, an author of the study and a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University. “Essentially, the medications are chosen by trial and error.”


See also: Dr. Sherry Benton on Mental Health Support at College


Side effects of antidepressants

Trial and error can be a harrowing way to select an antidepressant for patients. The drugs can cause a wide range of unpleasant side effects, including nausea, weight gain and increased appetite, loss of sex drive, fatigue and drowsiness, insomnia, dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation.

And for patients suffering from these side effects, it’s not as simple as stopping taking the antidepressants. “Don’t do it,” advises Mayo Clinic. Without antidepressants, depression symptoms will return, but this time with withdrawal-like symptoms.


See also: Your Seven Day Break on the Pill is Bogus—Here’s Why


Antidepressants study

In the study, researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze the brainwave patterns in more than 300 patients who had been diagnosed with major depression. Then they looked to see what happened when these same patients started treatment with sertraline.

And one pattern of electrical activity seemed to predict how well a patient would do. “If the person scores particularly high on that, the recommendation would be to get sertraline,” Etkin said.

Also, people whose brain waves showed they wouldn’t do well with the drug, were more likely to respond to a non-drug therapy called transcranial magnetic stimulation.

The results suggest depression treatment doesn’t have to rely on trial and error. “By finding people who are particularly sensitive to an antidepressant, we can find those people for whom the drug is very effective,” Etkin said.

Putting it into practice

Most psychiatrists and psychologists already have the EEG equipment needed to collect brainwave data, although they would need to upload that data to be analyzed.

The study shows that scientists are finally getting closer to understanding how to pick the best treatment for someone with depression.

“We are certainly pushing in that direction,” Ferrante said.

See also: Study Reveals Troubling Link Between Marijuana and False Memories
Do Nootropics Work?
Helping a Friend Who Has a Substance Abuse Problem

Concerned About College Housing? We Look at How Sleepyhead’s Mattress Toppers Can Help You Sleep Better

Your freshman year of college is a series of new experiences that help you learn and grow. For Steven Van Alen, it was life in student housing that opened his eyes and inspired the idea behind his student-focused business.

Van Alen is both a hard-working student continuing his studies at San Diego State University and the Founder and CEO of college mattress topper brand, Sleepyhead. If he could share one tip, he wished he would have known as a first-year student, it would be to come prepared for that campus housing-issued mattress.

He realized the beds in student housing and furnished apartments were substandard and unhygienic. Having no choice but to sleep on the old, used and uncomfortable mattresses provided by the university, students were using mattress toppers to go on top of the provided beds, yet there were so many questions about finding the right topper.

“The mattress toppers available to today’s students do very little to help,” Van Alen said. “I watched my friends, classmates and myself suffer from a lack of sleep due to substandard sleeping solutions. Colleges prohibit students from replacing their mattresses, so the only solution was a better mattress topper, and that’s when Sleepyhead was born.”

For students by students

The company is for students by students and offers mattress toppers that fit the standard Twin XL mattress size, and at a student-friendly price point. Sleepyhead doesn’t sacrifice quality either. Mattress toppers contain a proprietary memory foam – CertiPUR-US certified foam, which is tested to be free of any harmful toxins and materials. The memory foam also supports pressure points and posture so students can get a comfortable sleep, even when it’s after pulling an all-nighter or a power nap between classes.

Sleepyhead has already become a trusted brand by over 900 universities nationwide and just in time for students heading back to school for a new academic year. The company introduced the most advanced and comfortable copper-infused mattress topper on the market, the Copper Topper, which contains memory foam and nanotechnology to help protect students from bacteria, dust mites and uncomfortable used mattresses. Meanwhile their gel memory foam topper contains gel to help channel heat away from the body leaving you cool and comfortable.

Aside from providing sleeping solutions for success and supporting students’ dreams, the brand offers their “Good Till Graduation” five-year warranty on all mattress toppers. This means, from first-year students living in the dorms until graduation, Sleepyhead will be by your side.

In this line of business, Van Alen is using his age and college experience to his advantage and his talent isn’t going unnoticed. He’s working with four high profile investors and operators, who are current and past executives for companies such as:LoveSac, Goldman Sachs, Starwood Hotels and Coca-Cola.

“Our investors are high net worth individuals, with world class operating skills and financial backgrounds,” Van Alen said. “We are so fortunate to have these guys on board this early in the game.”

A good night’s sleep

No matter how successful Van Alen’s future business becomes, he wants to make sure Sleepyhead doesn’t stop at innovative mattress toppers. With the philosophy that everyone deserves a good night’s sleep, he founded the company as a hybrid between a corporation and a non-profit.

While substandard mattresses at college were certainly a concern, the knowledge of so many less fortunate who didn’t have a mattress to sleep on hit Van Alen close to home when he found out his sister was homeless, pregnant and a college student at the time. While she was provided government housing, she had no furnishings or the means to buy them.

With the thought of his sister sleeping on the concrete floor while being nine months pregnant, Van Alen knew he had to do something to help, not just her, but the thousands of students who fall on hard times. For this reason, this CEO under 30 takes pride in the fact that Sleepyhead is a benefit corporation, donating one product for every ten sold to an anti-poverty non-profit organization.

Thanks to Van Alen, student residents are no longer an ignored demographic in the sleep space. With this type of buzz early on in the start-up game, look for Sleepyhead to further revolutionize the sleep industry for college students and university housing.

Visit Sleepyhead on Instagram, @sleepyheadusa. Purchase one for yourself … and maybe your roommate online at www.sleepyheadusa.com.

See Also: 

Back to School Essentials

Exploring Campus 

Playing College Sports: All You Need to Know

Welcome to Nootropics: Natural Brain Boosters

We are faced with an ever-increasing need to process and retain complex information, as  our fast-paced lives emphasize an excellent memory, quick thinking, and creative problem-solving abilities.  Nothing supports these needs better than nootropics or powerful plant-based extracts, that have been utilized for thousands and thousands of years, as seen in ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese texts.

If you are looking to crush anxiety, depression, stress, and improve all cognitive functions we have a solution and it comes from the earth. Get back to your roots!  You are what you eat, nature/god/source has the answers, and our 100% natural vegan product will prove it to you.  We’ve spent years refining this formula of nootropics  and receive feedback daily on how users have pushed themselves to new levels, which they didn’t believe they could ever reach.

We start with Organic Lion’s Mane mushroom, a super-star in the nootropics world. The Organic Lion’s Mane in Neuro-Stack is a potent cognitive booster, especially since it’s wild grown on its natural substrates. Lion’s mane improves the health of brain tissue over time by stimulating Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), enhances nerve regeneration and gives a boost to brainpower by enhancing the communication between neurons. It’s been used clinically to reduce the plaques in the brain formed in Alzheimer’s disease and to treat ADHD. Learn more about the intense benefits of our Lion’s Mane at https://akualife.com/pages/lions-mane-mushroom .

Neuro-Stack also includes a patented high potency extract of  Turmeric called Curcumin C3 Complex®. Curcumin decreases inflammation and is a natural pain reliever; it also has been used as an antidepressant for centuries. Curcumin is a mood lifter and brings clarity over thoughts. It promotes the growth of new neurons and improves the balance of serotonin and dopamine, so you feel ready to tackle your day.

Next is Ashwagandha, one of the most powerful herbs employed in Ayurvedic healing for 1000’s of years. Ashwagandha works just as well as some of the most potent drugs used to treat anxiety and depression. This ancient remedy has remarkable stress-relieving properties. Our Ashwagandha is a patented version called Sensoril® and it is 5x more potent.

The Bacopa Monnieri extract in Neuro-Stack is a patented form called Bacognize®. Bacognize is an adaptogenic herb, which fights stress in your body and your brain and works as a healing agent, that doesn’t just cover up the symptoms like many drugs.

In order to get your brain firing and allow you to work at your best, CDP Choline/Citicoline is essential. We use a patented form called COGNIZIN®.  Choline is brain food and it gets used up faster, the more intensely we have to study and the more stress we have to deal with. It’s a primary neurotransmitter, which makes all the other functions of the brain possible.  CDP Choline is a targeted compound that has been used in clinical settings to heal stroke damage and studies have shown it can improve healing in the brain and improve cognitive performance.

Suntheanine® is a potent form of the amino acid L-theanine that’s been patented for its effectiveness.  It shifts your brainwave patterns away from the scattered, reactive beta state into the more focused and calm alpha state.  This is where your brain flows, where thoughts come effortlessly and you feel alert without being anxious.  Suntheanine® works extremely well with caffeine, enhancing cognitive abilities and wakefulness while soothing any potential jitters.  We’ve chosen not to include caffeine in our formula because if you’re reading this you’re likely already mainlining the stuff.

In all we have 27 nootropics in our masterpiece including 9 patented ones for optimum bioavailability.  We’ve done an astronomical amount of research into each of our ingredients and we constantly evaluate our supplies for exceptional quality.  We crafted this formula so you can perform at your highest level. You need to be at the top of your game every single day.  Our goal is to support you in unlocking your potential because you’re here to make a real difference in the world.

For a limited time use Discount code “NootropicsRule” at https://akualife.com/ for a $11.11 discount.

Start remembering more and feeling happier today by giving us a try.

About Akua Life 

Akua Life’s nine driving forces are love, quality, potency, results, helping people, health wellness, being eco-friendly, happy customers and making money. Similarly, their product neuro-stack’s abides by helping their customers remember more, feel happier and live healthier.

Many of their ingredients have a higher percentage of potency and a larger dose than other products on the market, alongside featuring four patented ingredients for maximum absorption and more bioavailable.Neuro-Stack even stimulates NGF – Nerve Growth Factor for enhanced nerve regeneration (you heal faster) and it can help relieve you of pain,

Start your journey to health and happiness at https://akualife.com/

See Also:

Neuro-Stack: Drug-Free Anxiety & Depression Relief Through Nature

Are the Increases in STIs Signs of a New Sexual Health Epidemic?

New findings published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found more than one million sexually transmitted infections  or STIs are contracted per day, with the most commonly contracted infections being gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and syphilis. Dr. Melanie Taylor,who led the report and medical epidemiologist at the WHO department of Reproductive Health and Research stated, “These infections indicate people are taking risks with their health, with their sexuality and with their reproductive health.”

The demographic at greater risk of contracting STIs are young people. According to the American Sexual Health Association, nearly 65 percent of high school students will have participated in sexual intercourse by the time they’ve reached the twelfth grade. The risk of obtaining an STI is increased when under the influence of alcohol or drugs, owing to the likelihood of having unprotected sex and carelessness with choosing partners.

 Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea

The surplus in the number of sexually transmitted infections comes in the wake of an increasing number of STIs showings signs of resistance to antibiotics. Gonorrhoea has now shown complete resistance to the traditional and most effective treatment method, fluoroquinolone.Transmitted by the bacteria, neisseria gonorrhoeae during unprotected sex, the symptoms of gonorrhoea include unusual discharge from the penis or vagina, painful urination, abdominal pain and in women, vaginal bleeding.

These resistant strains of gonorrhoea have been tied to an outbreak with infection failing to be treated by alternative methods, such as doses of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antibiotic resistant strains therefore represent a major public health threat; the guidelines that have been imposed for individuals diagnosed with gonorrhoea involves the use of dual therapy with ceftriaxone by deep intramuscular injection and oral azithromycin. Nonetheless, cases of reported resistance to cephalosporin could make the application of ceftriaxone ineffective.

Better diagnostics and sexual health care

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner,Professor of Medicine and Public Health at David Geffen School of Medicine and Fielding School of Public Health in LA, emphasised the need to address resistant strains of gonorrhoea by asserting, “There is an urgent need for better diagnostics to address the problem of drug-resistant gonorrhoea in the United States.”

The need for better diagnostic methods has propelled the establishment of the ResistancePlus GC (SpeeDx),a test which will be used to effectively detect if the neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria in a patient is susceptible or resistant to treatment via ciprofloxacin. The antibiotic-resistance test will subsequently be able detect more quickly, whether ciprofloxacin can or cannot be used on a patient and will save the time of patients.

If left untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to major health implications in men and women. The long-term consequences of untreated gonorrhoea include pelvic inflammatory disease, which can inflict serious damage to the fallopian tubes and maximize the likelihood of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy. In both men and women, another complication is a disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) typified in the body by join pain and dermatitis.

It is therefore imperative more sexual health services are put into place across all states and are easily accessible to all to prevent new cases of STIs and slow the rate of infections until more effective treatment methods for antibiotic-resistant strains are found.

See Also:

Let’s Talk About Sex Baby, Let’s Talk About STDs

STDs: When to have the talk

Your Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Swimsuit

ith endless categories being used to define women’s bodies, swimsuit shopping has become an impossible task—especially as clothing tags don’t tend to say: “buy this if you’re an inverted triangle.” This season is all about body positivity and feeling good in your own skin, so let’s leave the apples and pears in the fruit bowl and get back to soaking up the sun. Baring all in a string bikini is easier said than done, however. If you feel more confident drawing eyes away from a certain area or giving yourself a little more support, our swimsuit guide for different body types has— literally—got you covered.

Small chest

If you’re looking for a suit that flatters a smaller bust, go for an embellished or ruffled design up top to help give the illusion of a larger chest. Alternatively, there are many styles on the market that have sewn-in padding to give you a little extra boost.

Big chest

A triangle bikini may not be your friend, but cup sizes, underwire and thicker straps are. Choose a stretchy material that won’t dig in, don’t be afraid to get coverage by going up a cup size, and consider flattering your décolletage with a deep V-neck. Halter straps may place pressure on your neck, but halter-top suits that sit higher up on your chest can provide great support.

Swimsuits for broad shoulders

If you’ve got wider shoulders, you can balance them by going for suits with an asymmetrical neckline that will draw the eye up and away. Similarly, patterned bottoms with a plain top, or a solid-colored suit with paneling details, will give the illusion of an hourglass figure.

Broad hips

Solid bottoms and printed tops will draw the eye away from broader hips and balance out your body. Off-the- shoulder numbers will also serve to elongate your clavicle and give you a curvy silhouette.

Complimenting a short torso

If your waistline is closer to your chest than it is to your hips, you have a small torso. By lifting the bust line with a bikini and donning low-rise bottoms, you can serve up an elongated mid-section. Adding halter straps will also work by showing off your neck and shoulders, instead of your short torso.

The ideal swimsuit for a long torso

Long torso girls can really rock a one-piece. Bikinis with high-waisted bottoms will also work to give the impression of a shorter mid section.

Flatter your back

If love handles are getting you down, tuck them away with a one-piece or high-waisted bikini bottoms that cover the belly button (to prevent a muffin top). If your problem area is higher up, go for pieces with a high back and thick straps that—instead of digging in and creating depressions—flatter and smooth your profile.

Swimsuits for short legs

To elongate shorter legs, go for high-cut suits that sit further up on the hips, creating a V-shape. If you’re feeling brave, thong-style bottoms will work to generate an optimum limb-length.

Straight figure

If you have an athletic or narrower figure you don’t need to worry about balancing proportions. To create a curvier silhouette, you can add dimension with cutouts, shirring and bold prints.

Tummy

To hide a tummy or the liters of seawater you accidentally swallowed, sport a peplum style one-piece or a tankini for a cute cover-up. Ruching will also work to conceal a stomach and a plunging neckline will draw eyes away from your mid-section. Tummy control suits are revolutionary—offering easy curves and ample stability.

For the guys

Boys: will you be bold in briefs or opt for comfort in board shorts? These are longer than swim trunks and are perfect for adventurous-types that plan to surf or skate whilst catching rays (hence the word “board”). More options include square leg swimsuits, which are the equivalent of boxer underwear, and swim jammers, which hug the legs and are ideal for endurance pros.

Wear what you want

Swimsuit shopping, harsh dressing-room lights and friends with mile-high legs can be more-than-enough to ruin a beach day. Remember that nobody is looking at you. In fact, everyone feels this way—we’re just all built differently. Try to focus on emphasizing your favorite feature when choosing a suit, not covering up your least favorite. If you’re comfortable, protected and having fun, swimsuit season can’t get you down.

See Also:
Bon Voyage! Staying Safe on Vacation

How to Transition Your Summer Staples into Fall