{"id":2280,"date":"2023-04-20T15:42:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T19:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stationsme.ca\/explorer-par-sujet\/habitudes-de-vie\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T15:38:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T19:38:56","slug":"habitudes-de-vie","status":"publish","type":"subject","link":"https:\/\/stationsme.ca\/en\/students\/taking-care-of-yourself\/exploring-subject\/habitudes-de-vie\/","title":{"rendered":"Lifestyle habits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lifestyle habits are the actions a person takes on a daily basis to maintain good physical and psychological health. If you’re wondering what’s causing your lack of energy or your depressed mood, it’s possible that the cause is partly linked to your lifestyle habits (e.g., the quality of your diet, a lack of sleep or a sedentary lifestyle that goes on a little too long). This is generally what happens when we forget to prioritize ourselves and take time for self-care. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HOW CAN YOU ADOPT HEALTHY HABITS DAILY? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not everything has to be perfect but questioning your lifestyle habits and making a few changes can certainly benefit your mental health.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boost your energy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nutrition is just as important for keeping your brain healthy as it is for improving your sporting performance. Eating a sufficient and varied diet enables the brain to think better and even helps regulate emotions. What’s more, even if they don’t all have the same nutritional value, there’s no such thing as bad food. The important thing is to find the right balance and variety in your diet. A great way to energize yourself is to remember to bring snacks and a water bottle to keep you well hydrated during your classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get moving<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We know that physical activity not only prevents many physical health problems and boosts energy levels, but also improves our sense of well-being. And physical activity includes the simple act of moving. Yes, moving stimulates our neurotransmitters and increases the production of various hormones linked to well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, moving allows us to expend the energy mobilized in response to a stressful event, such as an exam! This energy needs to be released to reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and tell the brain it can relax. Pssst! If you’re short on time and don’t know what to do to get moving, put on your favorite song and dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get more sleep<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The stress of studying is very demanding on your body and brain. There’s no better way to than sleep to restore your energy reserves and process new information efficiently than sleep. Although it varies from person to person, a good night’s sleep is generally between 5 and 10 hours (the average is 7 to 8 hours). It’s a good idea to establish what this number is for you and try to respect it as much as possible. If you have doubts about the quantity and quality of your sleep, take a look at the stimulants (tea, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, etc.) you ingest during the day. We may have found a culprit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relaxation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Humans possess an incredible weapon for relaxation: breathing. Although breathing is most often an automatic function, it can also be consciously influenced. There are different types of breathing, including abdominal breathing. This type of breathing consists of slowly inhaling through the nose, inflating the belly, and gently exhaling. This deep, conscious breathing sends a signal to the heart and brain to calm down. Then all these elements coordinate: the heartbeat slows down and the brain goes into relaxation mode to unwind. It’s a virtuous circle! For more relaxation methods, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manage screen time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The benefits of technological devices are many, but it’s good to know the consequences for mental health. Excessive use of social networks can lead to sleep difficulties, lower self-esteem, increased stress, anxiety and depression. Take a look at this page <\/a>for apps to help you be more aware of your screen time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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