Recently, a friend sent me a text message that read "I've just accepted I won't be as prepared for class tomorrow and going to bed. I'm prioritizing my health over my academics."
And I was shocked. You're putting the needs of your body over being prepared for class?? What!? That is not what we do. We must work first and be healthy second. But then, I realized how ridiculous that sounded.
Do you realize that as a whole group we think that we should study instead of sleep, exercise or eat? I can't tell you the number of conversations I've had that revolve around people putting their health at risk simply because we have school to do?
And we start this young! On average an elementary student is given 15 minutes to eat lunch; but 20-40 minutes a day on standardized test prep. When budget cuts come around we cut PE first; the only time of the day we teach tiny humans to be active. We consistently, from age 5, tell students that their school work is more important than their physical or mental health. And that gets ingrained.
I was 14 the first time I stayed up past 1 in the morning doing homework. Now, it's a regular occurrence. I laugh when I'm deep in study mode and realize I forgot to eat yet another meal. And when I have a bunch to do; my daily exercise routine is the first to go. And all of this is weird; because I love food; and I know how important it is to exercise, and my bed is my favorite place on Earth.
I know this has started to sound like I'm whining about how much work I have; but that's really only part of it. When we put our health at risk for our school work; we are actually causing our school work to suffer more.
A study of 311 fourth graders revealed that students who received 56 hours or more of physical activity a year got better English/ language arts test scores than students who only receiver 28; despite the fewer hours of class time. And this is only one of the many studies out there suggesting similar things. Here is a really great report summarizing a lot of this research; even though it is slightly dated; the research is clear. Student's do better in school when they are healthy. http://activelivingresearch.org/files/ALR_Brief_ActiveEducation_Summer2009.pdf
When we are shorting student's lunch time; they are eating less of the healthy food that is provided for them. They are more concerned with going to recess than eating their food; especially the stuff they aren't completely thrilled about eating in the first place (Really? What kid wants to eat that over microwaved broccoli?). But! Alas! Improving the amount of time student's have for lunch, also improves their test scores! (NPR has a report on this if you want to look it up)
When regular exercise is occurring it allows for an increase in oxygen flow to the brain; which causes the formation of more neurotransmitters. Increased neurotransmitters; makes learning easer! What a thought!
And the fact that we constantly ignore these facts and force unhealthy habits on tiny humans; creates nasty habits when they are adults. I rarely question if it is okay to skip sleep to study; because I can sleep when I have my degree (jk probs have to work two jobs to pay back my student loans...but that's a different rant for a different time). I don't have time to cook myself healthy meals; and I'm lucky if I work 3 workouts a week into my schedule. But I always get my reading done and that paper will be done on time! I know better, but it is still impossibly hard for me to put my health above my school work. And a balance, is practically impossible to find.
When did our society reach this point? Since when is it more important that I have a degree than that I'm happy or healthy? Why can I not help but feel guilty when I take a break to make myself dinner?
Because the immense pressure we put on our children; leads them equating their self worth with academic achievement. And that also; doesn't go away. The reason that I value my school work over my health is because no one is going to write me a letter of recommendation simply because I get 8 hours of sleep a night. And no one cares what I had for dinner last night; if I haven't read my nightly 150 pages. It doesn't matter how fit and healthy I am; if I'm not also one hundred percent on top of everything else.
This isn't isolated to our college generation. It permeates into our work life too. Creating generations of work-aholics. Unable to slow down.
You are more than your grades or your job and your health is more important than your paper. And this is the conversation that we need to start having. So, I responded to my friend "I am so proud of you for valuing your health over your school work; because you are more important to me than your grades!"
*I apologize for the slight rant and the break in posts; missed this!
And I was shocked. You're putting the needs of your body over being prepared for class?? What!? That is not what we do. We must work first and be healthy second. But then, I realized how ridiculous that sounded.
Do you realize that as a whole group we think that we should study instead of sleep, exercise or eat? I can't tell you the number of conversations I've had that revolve around people putting their health at risk simply because we have school to do?
And we start this young! On average an elementary student is given 15 minutes to eat lunch; but 20-40 minutes a day on standardized test prep. When budget cuts come around we cut PE first; the only time of the day we teach tiny humans to be active. We consistently, from age 5, tell students that their school work is more important than their physical or mental health. And that gets ingrained.
I was 14 the first time I stayed up past 1 in the morning doing homework. Now, it's a regular occurrence. I laugh when I'm deep in study mode and realize I forgot to eat yet another meal. And when I have a bunch to do; my daily exercise routine is the first to go. And all of this is weird; because I love food; and I know how important it is to exercise, and my bed is my favorite place on Earth.
I know this has started to sound like I'm whining about how much work I have; but that's really only part of it. When we put our health at risk for our school work; we are actually causing our school work to suffer more.
A study of 311 fourth graders revealed that students who received 56 hours or more of physical activity a year got better English/ language arts test scores than students who only receiver 28; despite the fewer hours of class time. And this is only one of the many studies out there suggesting similar things. Here is a really great report summarizing a lot of this research; even though it is slightly dated; the research is clear. Student's do better in school when they are healthy. http://activelivingresearch.org/files/ALR_Brief_ActiveEducation_Summer2009.pdf
When we are shorting student's lunch time; they are eating less of the healthy food that is provided for them. They are more concerned with going to recess than eating their food; especially the stuff they aren't completely thrilled about eating in the first place (Really? What kid wants to eat that over microwaved broccoli?). But! Alas! Improving the amount of time student's have for lunch, also improves their test scores! (NPR has a report on this if you want to look it up)
When regular exercise is occurring it allows for an increase in oxygen flow to the brain; which causes the formation of more neurotransmitters. Increased neurotransmitters; makes learning easer! What a thought!
And the fact that we constantly ignore these facts and force unhealthy habits on tiny humans; creates nasty habits when they are adults. I rarely question if it is okay to skip sleep to study; because I can sleep when I have my degree (jk probs have to work two jobs to pay back my student loans...but that's a different rant for a different time). I don't have time to cook myself healthy meals; and I'm lucky if I work 3 workouts a week into my schedule. But I always get my reading done and that paper will be done on time! I know better, but it is still impossibly hard for me to put my health above my school work. And a balance, is practically impossible to find.
When did our society reach this point? Since when is it more important that I have a degree than that I'm happy or healthy? Why can I not help but feel guilty when I take a break to make myself dinner?
Because the immense pressure we put on our children; leads them equating their self worth with academic achievement. And that also; doesn't go away. The reason that I value my school work over my health is because no one is going to write me a letter of recommendation simply because I get 8 hours of sleep a night. And no one cares what I had for dinner last night; if I haven't read my nightly 150 pages. It doesn't matter how fit and healthy I am; if I'm not also one hundred percent on top of everything else.
This isn't isolated to our college generation. It permeates into our work life too. Creating generations of work-aholics. Unable to slow down.
You are more than your grades or your job and your health is more important than your paper. And this is the conversation that we need to start having. So, I responded to my friend "I am so proud of you for valuing your health over your school work; because you are more important to me than your grades!"
*I apologize for the slight rant and the break in posts; missed this!
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