How to Become a School Psychologist

A school psychologist is an invaluable asset to any institution that wants a safe and healthy environment for its students and their future. The increase in anxiety and depression rates among children makes it crucial to create systems where qualified professionals assist those who need help. Here’s everything the role entails, including psychologist education requirements, and a step-by-step guide.

What is School Psychology?

School psychologists work closely with teachers, administrators, and parents to help students learn skills that will help them in school or life. These professionals encourage students and support a safe learning environment.

School psychologists are knowledgeable about how children learn and how instructors teach.  As such, they can work with students to accentuate their strengths and improve their weaknesses. What’s more, school psychologists may also contribute to reshaping teaching practices for K-12 schools as well.

What does a School Psychologist do?

School psychologists work with students to manage various behavioral, emotional, and academic issues. They also serve on interdisciplinary teams that address the needs of at-risk learners. Besides, some school districts have implemented new mental health programs for their schools in response to increased demand from parents. Many school psychologists work independently or through consulting other professionals, such as teachers.

Steps to Become a School Psychologist

There are four steps to becoming a school psychologist.

Here’s a step-by-step guide.

1. Complete a degree

A degree in psychology could be all you need to pursue this career path. But, if you’re planning on specializing in children from kindergarten through fifth grade, you’ll also need an undergraduate degree in a related field. While it’s not mandatory, a postgraduate study for educational psychologists can enhance your chances of getting a good gig. 

Additionally, the Ed.S (Education Specialist) qualification is a popular choice for students who want to study education. Specifically, it helps those who don’t have enough time or funding to complete their Master’s degree and need an additional credential to be qualified for higher positions requiring two degrees.

2. Obtain State Licensure

What are the requirements in your state?  While every place has slightly different rules, you’ll need at least 60 credit hours of coursework and over 1,200 supervised training hours before getting licensed.  You also have to take an exam, which might vary depending on the state in which you’ll be working.

3. Secure the Job

Aspiring school psychologists should always be looking for work, even before completing their education and supervision.  This helps build a network of fellow professionals who are in similar positions as yourself that may come through with job opportunities when they arise.  There is no one type of environment where these specialists will find themselves working, so you must keep an open mind about the possibilities.

4. Maintain certification

Getting the job is one thing, but maintaining credentials and staying current in the field is another. Foremost, you must ensure that your school psychologist certification is up-to-date by undertaking continuous professional development activities.  Keeping the certification also means meeting various requirements, which vary with the state. Some states require renewal every 2-5 years, while others only set that requirement if your license expires or is revoked due to disciplinary action. 

However, all of them mandate at least one continuing education course within the first five years for new license applicants.  As a school psychologist, you’ll be in tune with the kids and their parents. You must also possess strong diplomatic skills and compassion for those around you. The rewarding part of this position is that you get to help young people become better versions of themselves, implementing change within your community.

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8 Best Ways to Combat Procrastination in College

“Just one more episode of the TV show”… “I will work on my essay after a quick walk” … “I will write my lab report a bit later.”

There are dozens of excurses that college and university students tend to use in order to avoid working on their essays, preparing for exams, and so on. Most undergrads wait until the last minute to sit and do homework or turn in an essay or book review. As a result, they end up feeling anxious and ready to give up.

If you feel like it’s time to improve your study habits and strengthen your focus by combating procrastination, we have some useful tips for you to use. You do deserve them.

Get Help

You want good grades but procrastination doesn’t let you get the desired scores in college. If you’re not sure whether or not you can meet the deadline set for this or that project, have a look at services that offer clients to buy an original research paper, and, maybe, one of them can become a real helping hand for you. When you hire professional writing and editing experts to get immediate assistance from, you will have an opportunity to co-work with the best reps of the custom writing industry. Not only will you receive a unique piece of writing, but you will also make sure that your cooperation with online helpers will always remain confidential.

Find a Partner in Crime

Finding a study buddy is a great opportunity to get academic assignments done on time! Your partner should be someone who is interested in academic progress and accomplishing every other paper at hand within the deadline. If you find one, you will be able to hold each other accountable for completing assignments. What is more, finding a study buddy also helps when one of you starts procrastinating. If that’s you, you will always have someone ready to encourage you to keep working.

Make a To-Do List

One of the reasons why students tend to procrastinate is because the workload seems to be pretty overwhelming. Check the list of the assignments that you have to accomplish. Break them up to have bite-size chunks of projects. You will accomplish them one by one. It is important to set a realistic deadline for each and work on them to submit your projects on time. Make sure you focus on one task at a time. If you’re a great procrastinator, don’t try to multitask. If you do so, you’re going to end up feeling even more stressed.

Cut Off Distractions

You won’t get any essay done when you keep checking your Facebook messenger or turning your attention to that new Netflix show. Make sure to assign yourself a certain period of time that you’re going to spend without all distractions. Turn off music, TV, and forget about your friends’ status updates. This time should be used to do as much  work as possible to submit the task at hand on time.

It’s Time to Change Your Environment

The reality is that our productivity may depend on the environment that we choose to study in. If it’s usually too loud in your dorm room, it’s better to visit the on-campus library or some other quiet room in college. At the same time, check some local cafés that you find especially comfortable. Many college students admit that they find it quite inspiring to work in a café with the background noise of coffee machines and people talking all over the place. Choose the place where you find yourself working most efficiently.

Reward Yourself

When you’re done with your essay, or you have successfully prepared for the test, it is important to have a mini-celebration. Make sure to reward yourself for what you have already done (even if it’s just a small part of a complex project). Watch your favorite movie or play some video game – it’s up to you to choose the most suitable rewards.

Address Your Fear

More often than not, procrastination is based on fear. Fear of making mistakes, fear of failure, and even fear of success can be there between you and the project that you have to accomplish. Ensure to address your fear to be able to finally overcome your habit to procrastinate.

Finally, Be Realistic

If you’re a morning person, consider waking up an hour or two earlier in order to start the essay that you have been putting off for a week. It’s recommended to create a schedule and set a time that will work best for you. Stick to the schedule to accomplish your assignments on time.

Combating your habit to procrastinate is not easy. After all, if it was a simple task there would be fewer college and university undergrads engaged in procrastination regularly. It’s no doubt, the urge to turn on the I-will-do-it-tomorrow mode is strong, especially when there are unanswered Instagram messages and new TV shows hooking your attention.

While procrastination is not something that you can always stay away from, once you understand why exactly you procrastinate and how to battle your habit, you will be able to control the situation. When you implement the strategies that we have just discussed, you will find it easier to handle college workload and avoid the anxiety that is usually associated with the inability to submit important tasks on time.

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8 Best Part-Time Income Opportunities For Students Abroad

It’s a well-known fact that millennials have it pretty rough, with student loan debt accounting for a staggering total of over $1.50 trillion of debt in the United States alone. And if a student loan funds your studies, you already know just how much of a debt burden you have hanging over your head before your professional career has even begun.

While there’s hardly a way for most students to obtain qualifications without the help of financial lending, another widespread issue among millennials is that student life is generally unaffordable, whether studying abroad or at a university in your home region. As a result, students abroad are faced with the extreme challenge of finding ways to make ends meet on an exceptionally tight budget. With general essential costs such as International Citizens Insurance, accommodation, utilities, internet, and quite a few others, making ends meet without any income supplement can seem impossible.

So, if you are among the multitude of students abroad searching for ways to ease the struggle by finding part-time earning opportunities, we have listed a few solutions for you. These opportunities are ideal for students as they probably won’t interfere with your education too much. 

Online Tutoring

Online tutoring isn’t too stressful, especially if you tutor a subject that you are well-versed in; English and maths are the most common options. The pay for online tutoring isn’t too bad either, and because class times are predictable, you will find it straightforward to plan your days well in advance around your own education. There are also several online tutoring platforms available that connect students with tutors, so you won’t have to advertise your service to find students either. 

Website Testing

Website testing is pretty straightforward; you test websites from a user’s perspective and provide recorded video footage of your review to the relevant company. Once again, you can find website testing opportunities by signing up with various platforms that will link you to available tasks. You don’t need any experience, although you will need a stable internet connection, a laptop or PC, and a headset. The average pay for website testing is also pretty decent, but different companies will offer different rates. 

Transcription

Transcription is basically turning audio files into written text. You don’t need much to sign up other than a basic understanding of language and grammar, a stable internet connection, a laptop or PC, and a headset. Transcription service platforms are also relatively easy to find, and most will provide you with an introduction and a test to get you started. Because you can work in your own time, you won’t have to neglect your education to earn a bit extra with transcription services. Transcription may be somewhat mundane, although you won’t have to strain yourself at all to earn an income by turning audio files into written text. 

Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is a growing community, and opportunities are ample as a result. You can find writing gigs easily with a bit of research or sign up with a content mill. The hours are generally flexible, and depending on the client, the pay can be pretty impressive too. You will need to have an solid grasp of language usage and, of course, a love for writing. However, the flexibility of freelance writing makes it perfectly suitable for students. If your creative writing skills aren’t that great, you can also consider academic writing opportunities and resume writing opportunities that are also quite easy to find online. 

Part-Time Jobs That Aren’t Suitable For Students

While the above-mentioned extra income opportunities can help you make ends meet without interfering with your education, other options that are commonly opted for by students worldwide are not suitable. Unfortunately, even though waiting tables and bar-tending is generally considered a student job, this kind of part-time employment can have a massively negative impact on your education. These opportunities aren’t entirely suitable due to long hours on your feet, often draining work conditions, and minimal pay. 

Other jobs that you should avoid are customer service opportunities call center jobs and even babysitting and dog walking, as these will be taxing on your physical and emotional wellbeing. Because your main focus is obtaining qualifications, you should only consider flexible employment options. Moreover, remote opportunities are also ideal as you won’t have to spend extra on transportation costs.

The vast majority of students today work part-time jobs to make it through their studies in more comfort. While part-time employment is a practical solution, you should also consider saving various methods of savings as a student abroad, such as meal-sharing, walking to class, partying less, and others. The more you simplify your budget and cut your costs, the easier it will be to focus on your education and make it through each month with less stress about your finances. 

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How to write an essay that your professor will like

Let’s be honest, when writing a college essay your primary goal is to impress your professor. You want to get an A-grade, and these ambitions are easy to explain. At the same time, this task can be very challenging since writing is not like a math problem where you can find one solution. Though you can really develop your skills and become a better essay writer, it takes some time. That’s why so many students send “Do My Essay” messages. They order essay writing and essay editing services when they need help from a professional author.

It doesn’t mean that you can’t make the grade on the essay written by yourself. In fact, the only thing you need is to understand your professor’s expectations.

Make sure you understand the assignment

We bet the answers are right in front of you. The chances are your professor has provided you with a list of instructions as well as with some lectures that you need to consider.

These requirements are not just words, they are literally your guide. What information can you get from them?

  • Topic — What should you write about in a history essay? This field is too wide. When your professor assigns you a topic, you have the focus.
  • The number of words\pages. This number helps you to understand how detailed and informative your paper should be. There is a huge difference between a 500-word essay and a 1500-word essay.
  • Structure. Yes, it is pretty boring, but it is the core of your paper. Just follow it and you’ll come up with content that is easy to read.
  • Deadline. Knowing the final term in advance, you can plan your time and divide the entire project into several milestones. 

There may be other requirements like formatting style, quotes, and references, specific sources. You should know that they exist to help you not to drive you crazy. If something is not clear, your professor will appreciate you asking questions so approach this step responsibly.

Develop a general idea

In other words, you have to come up with a powerful thesis statement. It is one sentence that describes the entire paper and your point of view. When you have it, you can write a good essay based on a clear message.

There are several ways to develop a thesis statement:

  • Brainstorm ideas. Focus on your topic and write down your thoughts related to it. 
  • Take a pause. Have a sleep, do some sports, meet your friends. The best ideas are sudden ideas.
  • Use a thesis statement generator. If you have some notes on your future essay, you can upload them in an online tool and artificial intelligence will provide several ideas for you.
  • Discuss it. Teamwork can be very efficient when you have like-minded people who are working together with you. Ask your fellow students to think over this project together and help each other with your thesis statements.

A general idea or a thesis statement for an academic essay is like a plot for a fiction book. It helps you to make your writing more organized and structured. 

Use proper language

What do you think, what does your professor expect to find in your paper? Professors are looking for signs that you understand the discipline, that you are familiar enough with it to make some conclusions. You should show your knowledge that you’ve gained in classes, and you should provide logical arguments to defend your point of view. Make smart use of language to reach these goals.

There is a list of some phrases that may be really helpful:

  • Firstly, secondly, thirdly;
  • According to A, B stated that, referring to the views of C;
  • In order to;
  • Moreover;
  • Let’s consider the problem from another angle;
  • My own point of view is that…;
  • This leads us to believe that…

Use various linking words to make an emphasis, add new information, provide contrast, order, and so on. Don’t forget to express your opinion and make some conclusions.

If you don’t know whether your language sounds professional enough, you can use tools like Grammarly. This software analyzes your paper and provides you with a list of mistakes and some tips on how to improve your writing overall. Besides, you can set your goals here, e.g. to write in American English, to sound academic with a confident tone, to write for a knowledgeable audience, etc.

Stand out among other students

Well, this step may be pretty brave but it is really necessary when it comes to an impression. Yes, you can get the best grade but your professor will not remember your name because it is just a good essay. Nothing special. What do you want? To boost your performance or to create something special?

Of course, it depends. There are situations when you’re required to provide a solid academic paper with all format nuances. At the same time, essay writing can be your platform to express yourself. If you think it is appropriate, use hooks, jokes, interesting quotes, and rhetoric questions. You can add a short story from your life to illustrate some points, or even start a dialogue with your reader, i.e. professor. 

However, it is a bad idea when it is your first time working together with this specific person. You should know something about the professor since he or she is your target audience. Mention curious facts during lessons, check one’s social media, discuss some issues and ask questions. Your efforts will pay off! 

Never skip a revision 

You may write a fantastic essay but it doesn’t matter if you forget about proofreading. Your professor will mention it immediately. It is bad not because you lack some knowledge or experience, it just shows your attitude. When you don’t do your best to provide the best quality possible, your professor believes that you don’t want to get an A-grade. So, proofreading is a must. Besides, take some time to check if your paper contains some plagiarism. Even if you didn’t copy someone else’s content. Just ensure. 

Analyze your mistakes

Students deal with essays all the time. The chances are you have a dozen essays written for this professor. If you want to impress him or her, you should show that you appreciate one’s feedback and that you’re able to analyze your mistakes and take them into account. So, when you’re looking for inspiration to start, read a couple of previous samples just to understand what your professor already liked and what didn’t. 

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How to Pay Student Loans with a Part-Time Job

After graduation, many of our visions of the ideal career don’t come to fruition. Even though going to college is still the best way to build a career for yourself, the reality is that job hunting isn’t easy and definitely not always fair. To make ends meet, you might take on a part-time job in your field or even an unrelated industry. But student loans are still looming over you and making you wonder whether you could ever live a future without crippling debt. Even if you’re earning a lot less than you envisioned after graduating, there are ways to make student loan debt more manageable. For part-time employees or freelancers, here are some tips for paying back your student loans with a small income.

Look into PAYE and REPAYE Programs

For federal Direct student loans, there are two programs that make repayment feasible even working part-time. The Pay-As-You-Earn and Revised-Pay-As-You-Earn plans are income-based, so they change according to how much you’re earning and what you can reasonably afford to contribute each month. It may take much longer to pay off your loans with these plans, but they’ll keep payments manageable and help you avoid defaulting.

We all know that some of us won’t be able to pay off our loans anytime soon. Some of us expect to carry student debt for life. That doesn’t mean you’re forced to live poorly or go without achieving certain milestones. You can have debt for decades and still keep it under control, build a decent savings and progress through life.

Look into Consolidation

If you have debt from multiple lenders, you may find that combining all of your loans into one lump sum. This can help you avoid varying interest rates and overwhelming bills each month. In this situation, consolidation could be right for you. If you use a student loan consolidation calculator, you can explore how rates with a private lender could change your budget and give you more discretionary income. Consolidating student loans isn’t as difficult as you might think. Learn all about the process so you can decide whether it’s a worthwhile choice for your future finances.

Take on a Side Hustle

Freelance side gigs or weekend jobs can be a good way to earn money that you put toward student loans. If your primary income comes from your part-time job, you can use the side gig to pay your monthly repayment without taking away from the cash you need to survive. If you took out student loans from a private lender and aren’t able to take advantage of PAYE or REPAYE programs, talk to them personally. Let them know what your current financial situation is, including how much money you have available at the end of each month after taxes, rent and other living expenses. Side gigs can help you meet the minimum payment requirement without going further into debt or facing penalties. Even if you only bring in $100 to $300 a month, you can set that aside to cover your payments and keep your part-time earnings to yourself.

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7 Careers You Can Explore With A Criminal Justice Degree

A career in law enforcement and criminal justice may be perfect for you, especially if you’re looking to make a change in your community. A criminal justice degree provides many fulfilling career opportunities in the field of law and order. With your degree, you’ll have the option to specialize in investigative work, crime prevention, and behavioral science. 

You found yourself at the right place if you’re looking to know more about the professions you can pursue with your criminal justice degree. Here are some of the top career opportunities you can take, including the usual responsibilities:

  1. Police Force 

The most usual career path for a criminal justice graduate is to be in the local police force. A criminal justice degree may help you maximize the possibility of getting a promotion and speeding up the climb to higher positions too.

The available rankings for the police force depend on the size of your department. Typically, most police departments have a ranking system similar to that of the military. If you aim for higher positions, you need to upgrade your level of education as well. Thus, you may want to check out the best online masters in criminal justice to help you advance your career.

Here, the rankings range from corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and chief. But, other departments, usually those with a modest size, also offer a position for detectives. 

Bigger departments, on the contrary, have more specialized positions, including but not limited to, canine and harbor patrols. 

Some officers are usually called troopers in other police forces. Although troopers share a similar job description to regular police officers, there’s the addition of state traffic law enforcement and monitoring of interstate highways. 

Troopers also help the local police department if assistance when dealing with emergency cases is needed. In some cases, the court calls on troopers to provide assistance and protection. In other instances, troopers are also promoted to fill the work of investigators. When police officers are called to take a federal level position, the title then changes to ‘agents.’ 

The minimum educational attainment to enter the police force may change, depending on the state you’re from. But, usually, most states look for a college degree. 

In addition to that, you must also complete the police training program or on-the-job training in a local department. On the other hand, federal agents go through supplementary training that’s necessary for the position. This is done through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. 

Once you pass all your required training, the federal or state jurisdiction you plan to serve will provide you with special certification and licensure.  

  1. Corrections Officer 

Another career you can take with a criminal justice degree is in the correctional institutions. Corrections officers are the ones who are responsible for supervising individuals who have been arrested. 

If you’re interested in being a correction officer, you can expect to work as a bailiff or a jailer. Either can be stationed locally or in state and federal governments. 

The minimum educational requirement for correctional officers is, at least, a high school diploma and a certification of a training academy. However, specific departments may require you to have, at least, a college degree in any criminal justice-related field. Such departments include federal prisons. In addition to that, many federal departments would also require you to have several years of work experience before you can get started.  

The work environment for correctional officers would require you to have strong decision-making and interpersonal skills. It would be best if you also had self-control and discipline. This is because correctional officers tend to work closely with criminals. 

  1. Legal Science 

If you’d much rather work behind the scenes, then you might want to consider a position in legal science. Paralegals comprise the legal support system.

As a paralegal, your responsibility is to assist lawyers in preparation for court trials, hearings, and other legal meetings. Your particular duty as a paralegal would depend largely on the firm you’re working with. 

However, most paralegals share a standard job description which includes: 

  • Collecting and analyzing facts and data to be used in a case 
  • Legal research 
  • Making report summaries 
  • Drafting of documents 
  • Assisting lawyers in court proceedings

As a paralegal, you have to be adaptable and remain composed and firm in times of complication. On top of that, you must also possess great knowledge about depositions, legal trials, and the preparation of witnesses for questioning.  

If you’re looking to pursue a legal science career, you’ll do well with an associate degree in paralegal studies. However, several firms require a bachelor’s degree. But, if you’re a criminal justice degree holder, you’d still need a specialized certification to start practicing.  

  1. Criminalist 

Another career is to be a criminalist. You’ll be doing crime scene investigations (CSI) which lets you collect, document, and preserve forensic evidence. 

As a CSI, you’re also responsible for recording observations, taking photographs, and drafting sketches. Typically, it’s your duty as a criminalist to conduct laboratory analysis from crime scenes. 

You can also expect to work closely with other law enforcement officers. However, once you earn more working experience, you can specialize in one aspect.  

  1. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Likewise, you can also become a (CISO) responsible for overseeing data security plans and cybersecurity management. You’ll be responsible for establishing protocols to detect security threats and maintain an up-to-date firewall. 

As an ISO, your duty will also include managing both hardware devices and software applications to prevent any unauthorized breach of data. In the case of data breaches, you’ll perform an investigation and security improvement to avoid further attacks. 

  1. University Professor  

Criminal justice degree holders like you can also enter the field of education. After all, without college professors, you’ll leave the next generation of college students without an educator. 

To be a criminal justice professor, you’d need a bachelor’s degree and another advanced degree such as a master’s in the field you’re teaching.  

  1. Fire Investigation Officer 

Like its police counterpart, as a fire investigation officer, you’d be expected to conduct investigations on incidents involving fire. 

You can also expect to work with several law enforcement officers in a fire accident, especially if it’s deemed to be arson. In such a case, fire and crime scene investigators come together to comprehend the nature of the crime and locate the perpetrator.  

Conclusion 

As mentioned, there are several career opportunities for you. A criminal justice degree also opens a lot of windows for employment growth and development. But, it’s important to note that the specialization you choose right now will largely influence which field in criminal justice you’ll end up in. Thus, you can start specializing in criminal justice programs that you want to have a career in.

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3 Ways to Prepare for a Career in Property Management

If you’re a young person with ambitions of starting a career in property management someday, naturally, you may have some questions regarding what steps you can take now to not only prepare for your eventual career, but also make the right impression on potential employers in the future.

No single blog entry could cover all the ways you can position yourself for success in this line of work. You should strongly consider reaching out to other property managers to ask if they’d be willing to offer their own advice or even become a mentor.

In the meantime, though, the following tips will help you generally understand what a young person should do to improve their chances of becoming a successful property manager. Be aware, while this list is written under the assumption that the average reader will either be a college student, a college graduate, or a young person who plans on attending college in the near future, it is technically possible to achieve your career goals in this industry without a college degree (though it may be more difficult).

If you’re considering becoming a property manager in the future, you should be taking such steps now:

Familiarize yourself with practical factors

You might not be entirely certain property management is the ideal career for someone with your goals and talents. A career in property management may be one of several options you’re considering.

If so, you can start to better determine whether this is a career you’d genuinely be interested in by researching certain practical factors. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, the median pay for a property manager was $59,660 per year. Depending on how much money you wish to earn in the future, this may make property management a more appealing or less appealing career option.

You should also review the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ general overview (linked to above) to learn more about what the day-to-day work of being a property manager typically involves. For instance, although most property managers have offices, they may also spend large portions of their time showing properties and performing other out-of-office tasks. Once more, this may appeal to some job-seekers, but not all.

Consider studying business

Some colleges and universities offer academic programs specifically focused on property management. If you truly aspire to this career, and you attend a college with this type of program, you should of course enroll in such programs. However, many property managers simply studied business administration in college.

Keep in mind that, even if you’re not a college student or graduate and don’t expect to attend college, you can still earn a certification in property management. This is another means of ensuring your resume stands out to employers if you don’t have a college degree. Research your options to determine if you should pursue a certification.

Be patient

Once you have the necessary qualifications, you should apply to jobs or internships at property management companies with the understanding that you’ll likely have to accept an entry-level position at first.

When describing how they achieved their career goals, successful property managers often explain how they started in temp positions or as low-level assistants. They were able to climb the ladder by not only consistently impressing their employers through the quality of their work, but also by openly expressing their desire to become a property manager, volunteering for new assignments, and pivoting to new roles at other companies when opportunities for advancement with their early employers were limited.

Again, this isn’t an exhaustive list of the steps you can take to become a property manager. It’s wise to actively research this topic in greater detail. That said, this brief guide hopefully provided you with a sense of what such a career entails, and how you can begin pursuing this career.

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10 TIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES

While typically healthier than people in many other age groups, college students often battle headaches and migraines that are caused by stress, intense studying, lack of sleep, and other issues.

Although the occasional headache can be relatively harmless, intense episodes or persistent pains can interfere with day-to-day life. Certain headache disorders can be debilitating, to the point where some students need to seek immediate medical attention or collect long-term disability benefits.

Whether you’re looking to fight off the occasional mild headache or combat painful migraines, here are 10 tips for college students who suffer from headaches and migraines.

1. Reduce the strain on your eyes

Many headaches are caused by students putting too much strain on their eyes. This can be the result of poor lighting, blinding glares, excessively bright colors, or computer vision syndrome (CVS)—a condition caused when people stare at computer screens, tablets, or phones for extended periods.

Optimize your workspaces so that they put minimal strain on your eyes. Rather than working in the dark, turn on a few lights or remove the shutters from a few windows. Rather than positioning a bright light directly in front of your eyes, move it slightly out of your field of view.

As your school program already requires you to spend a significant amount of time in front of a computer screen, try to cut back on some of the more unnecessary screen time. Also, remember to take frequent breaks in between tasks!

2. Invest in an ergonomic chair

Bad posture can also be a cause for certain headaches. Unfortunately for college students, they are often required to sit in rigid classroom and library chairs for long periods.

To improve your posture, consider investing in an ergonomic chair for your own personal study time. Not only will an ergonomic chair help you correct some of the minor postural issues that go undetected but it will also provide a greater level of comfort.

3. Monitor your caffeine intake

While caffeine certainly has its benefits—improving memory, increasing alertness, temporarily decreasing fatigue, and even relieving certain headaches—it can also be the cause of headaches when not used in moderation.

When you consume caffeine, the blood vessels surrounding your brain narrow. When you stop consuming caffeine, those same blood vessels expand and put pressure on the surrounding nerves. This can cause what is often referred to as a “withdrawal” headache.

Rather than relying so heavily on caffeine to stay awake and be productive, carefully monitor your caffeine consumption to avoid painful withdrawals.

4. Stay hydrated

For many students, headaches are simply the result of dehydration. Even during simple tasks that involve very little physical activity, your body is constantly losing fluids that need to be replenished.

After a few glasses of water, most dehydration-related headaches are resolved within three hours. While you may choose to drink coffee, tea, soda, and other beverages throughout any given day, be sure to drink plenty of water in between.

5. Maintain a routine

One of the most effective ways to manage stress is to create a daily routine and stick to it. A routine provides you with a complete picture of what needs to be achieved, and subsequently, gives you the confidence to achieve it.

Besides potentially eradicating headaches and migraines, lower stress levels can also improve both your mental and physical health across the board—putting you at lower risk for certain conditions and illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and heart disease.

6. Create a sleep schedule

It’s not unlike university students to study well into the night when completing an assignment or preparing for an exam—forfeiting much-needed rest in pursuit of a good grade.

Unfortunately, sleep deprivation can be the source of headaches and migraines. Not to mention, it can actually have a negative impact on academic performance. Instead, create a sleep schedule that allows you to get 7 – 9 hours of rest at a consistent time each night.

7. Improve your diet

Sticking to a healthy diet can also eliminate certain headaches and migraines. According to one study, 42% of adults reported that eating a vegan diet or removing certain dietary triggers helped with their migraines.

Even if you’re unwilling to adopt a vegan diet at this time, most students can improve their diets significantly by preferring fresh foods—such as fruits and vegetables—to foods that are packed with preservatives and unhealthy sugars.

If you live in an apartment or suite, consider preparing your own healthy meals rather than resorting to takeout and fast food. If you’re on your college’s meal plan, consider selecting the healthiest options that are being offered whenever possible.

A healthy diet also requires you to refuel at the right times. Avoid the temptation of skipping meals when you’re studying for a test or using conventional meal times to catch up on sleep.

8. Exercise often

For students whose headaches and migraines are related to stress or lack of sleep, physical activity can often be the solution.

Exercise not only improves blood and oxygen circulation throughout the body, including the brain, but it also allows individuals to fall asleep more easily at night. Additionally, physical activity causes the body to release endorphins—hormones that are known to relieve both pain and stress.

9. Make your school aware of your condition

If your experience with headaches or migraines has become a legitimate disability, it’s wise to make your college or university aware by filing disability accommodation paperwork.

Although not required, it might also be worth discussing your condition with your professors directly. If severe, debilitating pain ever causes you to miss a lecture or assignment, a professor might be more understanding than if he or she had no knowledge of your disability.

10. Reevaluate your workload

Particularly for those who are working jobs while attending college, headaches and migraines can be the result of extreme stress.

Consider whether or not your heavy course load is contributing to your condition. There’s no shame in curbing the amount of work you take on each semester. In fact, doing so could even improve your academic performance.

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What Is Academic Writing? Do’s and Don’ts for Students

Academic writing is a formal style of writing that is used by the academic community. For example, academic writing is used by universities and academic journals. If you want to publish your article in a peer-reviewed journal, you should stick with the academic style. Students need to use the academic style when writing research papers, dissertations, literature reviews, essays, and other types of academic assignments.

In the opinion of betterwritingservices.com, the vast majority of American students avoid the stress of writing academic papers and prefer to buy them online from legitimate essay writing companies.

In this article, we will consider some specific features of academic writing in more detail and take a look at the main dos and don’ts of formal writing.

The Key Features of Academic Writing

First of all, academic writing should be unbiased and formal. All your claims must be based on evidence, and you cannot build your arguments around your personal opinions or assumptions. You can make your writing unbiased by presenting research results accurately, acknowledging the limitations of your own research, and addressing opposite viewpoints. The formal style of writing requires you to make your paper consistent in terms of logic and structure. Besides, you should avoid colloquialisms, clichés, and contractions.

Academic writing should also be precise and clear, which means that you must avoid vague phrases and statements that can be interpreted in different ways. Besides, you should avoid words like “perhaps” or “likely” because your arguments should be specific, and you should present them with confidence. We recommend that you read academic journals to familiarize yourself with the writing style and vocabulary.

Last but not least, academic writing must be well-structured and well-focused. Your arguments and all the information that you provide must be perfectly relevant to your general topic. The overall structure may vary depending on the type of paper and word count, but the structure of the content should meet some common requirements so that your paper will be easy to comprehend. For instance, each of your paragraphs should focus on a specific idea expressed in a topic sentence. Use transitional phrases to connect different paragraphs and include transitional words in sentences to indicate the connection between different ideas.

As you can see, academic writing is all about precision, clarity, and credibility. Therefore, you should also select reputable sources. While you might feel tempted to use any sources that support your opinion, you must make sure that your sources are actually credible and relevant. Use your university library and academic databases. Don’t forget to cite your sources according to the necessary citation format.

The Do’s

 

  • Write clearly
    Even though your academic papers might be dedicated to complex topics, you should make sure that they are easy to read. Your readers should understand exactly what you’re saying. Always start paragraphs with topic sentences and keep your sentences brief. Avoid complex terms if you can deliver the same information in a simpler way.

 

 

  • Stay objective
    Academic writing must be based on facts and logic. It should also be precise and not influenced by emotions. You need to present information in an objective and impersonal way. To stay objective, you must only use reliable academic sources and support all of your arguments with data. Avoid clichés because they will damage the overall clarity and make your writing less specific. Besides, you should only write in the third person.

 

 

  • Use various sentence structures
    Academic writing can easily become boring, especially when your audience needs to read the same long sentences over and over again. Moreover, long, overcomplicated sentences may make your audience think that you’re unable to formulate your ideas in an easy-to-understand way. In contrast, if you use short sentences only, you won’t let your readers reflect on the overall meaning, creating a sense of a rush. We recommend that you choose a well-balanced approach, using both long and short sentences.

 

 

  • Use technical vocabulary
    All academic subjects have a certain jargon, and you can use it to communicate your thoughts precisely. However, you should only use specific terms when you actually need them. Don’t try to impress your readers with complex words because this way, you will just make your text difficult to read.

 

The Don’ts

 

  • Avoid a personal language
    Although you may use the first person when writing admission and narrative essays, the use of the first person is generally prohibited in academic writing. Besides, one of your main goals is to stay objective so there’s no place for your personal perspective.

 

 

  • Avoid colloquialisms
    When writing academic papers, you should be especially careful with your word choice. While conversational English enables you to use some slang words and informal phrases, you should never use them in academic writing. We recommend that you read your paper once you’ve finished writing, and replace any colloquial language with appropriate forms.

 

 

  • Don’t use the wrong verb tense
    Students often change the verb tense by mistake, switching from one tense to another, even though different actions may take place within the same timeframe. You should always be careful with the verb tense because it indicates whether something happened in the past, present, or future. We recommend that you always check the verb tense when editing your papers.

 

 

  • Avoid inappropriate fonts and formatting
    When it comes to formatting, you should follow clear guidelines. There are different formatting styles used in academic writing, such as APA, Chicago, MLA, Harvard, and others. Every style has certain requirements regarding margins, fonts, and other details of formatting. Before you start to write your academic paper, make sure to check the rules of the required citation style and determine what fonts you can use, as well as what your headings, citations, and main content should look like.

 

Final Thoughts

Academic writing requires you to stick with the formal writing style and to express your thoughts in the most precise and objective way. All students have to be familiar with academic writing and use it when writing assignments. Even though academic writing is much more difficult than informal conversational English, it’s easy to master once you’ve familiarized yourself with some clear rules. We hope that this guide will help you avoid some common mistakes and write academic papers that will be appreciated by professors.

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What Are the Signs of Sexual Abuse in Teens?

As the parent of the teen, one of your first fears might be that they are abused in any way, including sexually. Unfortunately, sexual abuse is a reality, and perhaps one that’s more prevalent than you might think.

There are often stories of sexual abuse that happens to both male and female teens, and the perpetrator is often someone who is trusted, such as a teacher or school official.

The CDC estimates 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls will experience sexual abuse in the U.S. before they’re 18.

If you can recognize the warning signs of abuse, you may be able to stop it before it happens or do something about it quickly if it already has.

The signs of abuse in teens can be challenging to identify, however.

The following are things to know about red flags of sexual abuse that are often seen in teens, and also more details about what you can do if you’re a parent.

Physical Symptoms

You may wonder if there are physical symptoms and the difficulty in identifying sexual abuse is that there often aren’t. If there are, your teen may hide them from you. If there are physical symptoms, a medical professional might bring them to your attention as a parent, but these tend to be things that can easily be misdiagnosed.

If there were going to be physical signs or symptoms, they might include unexplained bruising or symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases.

Behavioral Symptoms

You are more likely to start to see there’s a problem by the way your teen behaves, but again, that can be challenging because teens tend to be moody and unpredictable regardless of the circumstances.

In girls, in particular, some of the symptoms that may occur when they are a victim of sexual abuse include:

  • Eating disorders: A lot of parents don’t understand the links between an eating disorder, particularly one that seems to have developed recently, and sexual abuse. Eating disorders can include anorexia but also bulimia and binge eating. A lot of times, sexual abuse survivors will feel a sense of shame or guilt, and they may try to deal with that by punishing themselves with food-related behavior.
  • Substance misuse: When a teen starts to use drugs or alcohol, there’s a tendency to automatically think they’re doing that because their friends are or they want to have fun. What a lot of parents and even educators don’t understand is that teen substance misuse is often masking something else that’s happening, and one of the things that it could be covering is sexual abuse. Research has found significant links, particularly in females, between substance use and sexual abuse at some point in their lifetime.
  • Depression: Depression, along with other mental health conditions, including anxiety, are common signs of sexual abuse.
  • Self-harm or self-destructive behavior: If a teen is cutting or harming themselves or talks about suicide or attempts it, there may be something else happening, particularly if this behavior has just seemed to come out of nowhere.
  • Some parents may notice that their teen seems to be very sexual or have an advanced level of sexual knowledge for their age. They might not even realize they’re sharing this with their parents.

Sometimes the signs of sexual abuse can be different in males versus females. A male may become aggressive, for example, while that’s less common in females.

Boys who have been sexually abused may show signs like inappropriate sexually related behavior and physical problems like pain in the genital area.

With both boys and girls, changes in sleeping or eating habits can also be indicators that something isn’t right.

If you do see anything that you as a parent feel isn’t right, it’s important to try and talk to your teen about it because they may be honest with you.

If your teen comes to you about it, you should first and foremost tell them that you believe them and thank them for being honest.

If your teen comes to you to tell you this, rather than asking questions, just let them speak.

From there, you will need to get professionals involved.

Contacting the Authorities

If you find out, as a parent, that your teen has been sexually abused, no matter what your child says they want, you have to contact the authorities. This is important not only for your child but for other children and teens who could be victims.

You are obligated to report it, and there are safeguards in place to prevent your child from being retraumatized in a court situation.

You may also need to talk to a medical professional and also a counselor or mental health professional.

Dealing with Your Own Feelings

As a parent, your first priority will undoubtedly be helping your teen in any way possible, but eventually, you will also have to deal with your own feelings about the situation.

You may feel extreme anger, guilt, shame, or so many other emotions. It’s normal to feel this way, particularly since as a parent, you want to protect your child more than anything.

You first have to avoid showing these emotions around your teen because it’s probably going to heighten their own similar feelings.

You can talk openly and honestly with your teen, but don’t let your emotions become so outwardly escalated that you add to the stress or trauma your child is feeling.

You may benefit from participating in a support group or talking to a counselor yourself as well.

The reality is that a trauma like teenage sexual abuse can affect your child for the rest of their lives, but at the same time, their life is far from ruined, and the next steps you take can make a world of difference.

Long-term therapy and emotional support are going to be two of the best things available for your child.

Don’t pressure your teen into anything they don’t want to do, and take the process as slowly as they need it to be.

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