General health is all about a healthy diet, exercise, regular health checks, management of adequate sleep, stress management, engaging in personally meaningful and stimulating activities, and relaxation.
Health and cognitive skills
Cognitive skills are brain-based skills, such as thinking, reading, learning, remembering, logical reasoning, and paying attention. They are mental capabilities needed to successfully learn and develop oneself.
One cannot deny the very obvious relationship between the state of one's health and cognitive skills. In fact, there have been several studies on understanding to what extent these two are connected. If you want to learn more about this, you can read some academic works available online for free.
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Health issues may contribute to a decline in a student's cognitive skills. Some of which are:
- Behavioral health problems: Perhaps, this is one of the major health issues that significantly affect a student's cognitive skills. People diagnosed with disorders such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism may find it incredibly hard to communicate and understand when being taught in class.
- Mental health issues: Recently, schools have begun to pay more attention to students' mental health. A child suffering from poor mental health conditions will find it hard to understand and retain knowledge. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia may have devastating effects on the ability of students to learn.
- Dyslexia: This is a prevalent learning disorder found in children. It is often characterized by difficulty in learning new words and reading. If not given proper attention, a child with dyslexia may continue to fail in school.
- Poor nutrition: It is no news that there are a lot of children in school who come from poor homes. A child with an empty stomach may find it very hard to pay attention in school. This is because they are constantly left hungry and lacking the essential nutrients for their growth and development.
- Untreated cases of impaired vision or poor hearing may severely impede the ability to communicate appropriately in school.
Taking care of your health
To have the very best college experience, it is important to take good care of yourself.
Here are some of the things I wish someone would have told me before I started my freshman year in college. With healthful habits, you can prevent the following diseases:
- Cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks and strokes (the numbers one and three causes of death)
- Some cancers
- Diabetes (currently reaching epidemic proportions)
- Lung diseases related to smoking
- Injuries related to substance abuse
However, wellness is more than just avoiding disease. Wellness involves feeling good in every respect, in mind and spirit as well as in body. Good health habits also offer numerous benefits for your college performance:
- More energy
- Better ability to focus on your studies
- Less stress, feeling more resilient and able to handle day-to-day stress
- Less time lost to colds, flu, infections, and other illnesses
- More restful sleep
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The key to good nutrition is to eat a varied diet with lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains and to minimize fats, sugar, and salt. The exact amounts depend on your calorie requirements and activity levels, but you don’t have to count calories or measure and weigh your food to eat well.
Sports
Exercise is good for both body and mind. Indeed, physical activity is almost essential for good health and student success. It's important for college students to regularly exercise or engage in physical activity. Like good nutrition and getting enough sleep, exercise is a key habit that contributes to overall wellness that promotes college success.
Sleep
Sleep is particularly important for students because there seems to be so much pressure—to attend class, study, maintain a social life, and perhaps work—that most college students have difficulty getting enough. Yet sleep is critical for concentrating well.
Final thoughts
General health is closely related to cognitive skills. Poor health leads to poor cognitive functioning. In this case, no matter what kind of information is coming your way, grasping, retaining or using that information effectively is impossible.
All in all, the goal for students should be to maintain a consistent routine that bolsters their physical and mental health. By following the tips above, students can get ahead in all areas of their lives.
Author’s BIO
Sven Eggers is a health coach, researcher and academic expert. He works mainly with young people, helping them live more happily and efficiently. Sven believes that one of the most important factors of our well-being and success is health.
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