8 life lessons for students

Being a student is an exciting time – life is full of options and possibilities. It is also a great time to form habits that will see you succeed during your studies, and beyond throughout your lifetime. Here are eight great lessons that will set you in good stead.

1. Make small tweaks towards a healthier lifestyle each day. The first step to beauty is vibrant health. Everything you eat and drink, and every lifestyle choice you make, shows in your skin, your eyes, your hair and your demeanour. Overhauling your lifestyle can seem like a daunting task but commit to making a small, achievable change each week and see the difference it can make.

2. Alcohol and drugs don’t equal true confidence. Alcohol and drugs can seem like an attractive option when socialising with friends, or to cope with life’s ups and downs, but the long-term affect they can have on your health is always negative. That old saying ‘what goes up must come down’ really applies here! Alcohol and drugs can wreak havoc on your sleep (quantity and quality), skin, hair, overall health, and ability to deal with what life throws at you.

3. Create a study plan that works for you and stick to it. Having a schedule of study set out that you stick to, week in, week out is the best way to success. Study is like exercise: if you wait to do it when you feel like it, it never gets done. And, like exercise, you will never regret a study session! So sit down and work out a realistic plan to fit study into your life every week.

4. Learn to listen to your inner wisdom. You may have a lot to learn, but don’t underestimate your inner wisdom. Listen to that voice that tells you the right choices to make. Katharine Hepburn said, “If you always do what interests you, at least one person will be pleased.” Life is too short to spend it trying to please everyone else!

5. Curiosity opens doors. If something interests you, ask questions; do your own research; find answers. You never know where they will lead but this is a great way to find what your true interests are.

6. Walk the walk. Kurt Vonnegut said, ‘We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.’ If you want to be a beauty therapist, study beauty therapists you admire. What do they do? How to they act? What can you start doing now to tell the world what you want to be?

7. Adhere to mindful eating. Think of everything you put in your mouth as fuel for your body and your mind. Take your time to plan your meals and think about whether each meal and snack will help or hinder you to tackle all that life will throw at you each day. And when you eat, stop what you are doing, and sit down. Savour every mouthful and enjoy the experience of nourishing yourself. Being mindful allows you to take control of your eating habits.

8. Following the crowd leaves you in a crowded place. If you do what everyone else is doing, you will end up where everyone else is going. And standing out in a crowd can be hard. Follow that inner voice that tells you where to go and what you love to do. You will shine for sure.