It’s exam time. Students feel it like a tough phase of life in which they need to keep their energy levels, enthusiasm and physical fitness up in order to stay ahead of others in the race. Your subject preparedness will be discarded if you do not keep your body fit.

In this article, we’ll discuss the essentials required to stay fit while being at home for a long time (due to COVID-19 restrictions). Read and add them to your everyday schedule so that your hard work does not go vain.

What steps can you take to boost your healthy life style?

1. Consume a healthy and protein-rich diet

When you are busy in your study routine, you have a tendency to miss out on your everyday daily nutrition intake. Eat a combination of different foods, including fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains. You should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Do not forget to include whole grains and protein-rich foods. It will enhance your concentration level as well as boost your overall physical fitness.

2. Reduce intake of harmful fats

Fats taken should be less than 30% of your total energy intake. This will help prevent unhealthy weight gain. There are different types of fats, but unsaturated fats are desirable over saturated fats and trans-fats. One should minimise saturated fats to less than 10% of total energy intake; reducing trans-fats to less than 1% of total energy intake.

3. Clean your hands properly

Hand hygiene is critical especially during pandemic times. Clean hands can prevent the spread of infectious illnesses. You should hand wash using soap and water when your hands are visibly soiled or hand rub using alcohol-based products i.e. sanitiser etc.

4. Strengthen your immunity

While you focus on useful things for your wellbeing, do ensure to avoid food that weaken your digestive system and make you susceptible to sickness. Include more probiotic-fortified foods (like yogurt, pickles, cheese, etc.) to your daily diet and eat small and frequent meals to keep your energy levels up all the time. Also, do not forget to take your daily dose of vitamins and minerals.

5. Realize the importance of adequate sleep and study breaks

A good sleep is only at night and that too for 7-8 hours on the trot. A sound sleep keeps your mood up and you study better while practicing your subjects. Please be informed that compromising on your night’s sleep will keep you both mentally and physically lethargic. Also, do not study for a long stretch at a time. Keep study breaks in your daily schedules and reenergize your brain and body!

6. Be active and mediate

Physical activity is defined as any bodily activity undertaken by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. This includes exercise and activities undertaken while working, playing, carrying out household chores, travelling, and engaging in recreational pursuits. The amount of physical activity you need should do at least 30-45 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on a daily basis. Exercise to stay physically fit and strong, and meditate to calm the stressing nerves. Include both the activities in your everyday routine without fail.

7. Have regular check-ups

Regular check-ups can help find health problems before they start specially during the times when infections are in the air. Health professionals can help find and diagnose health issues early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better. Visit your nearest health facility to check out the health services, screenings and treatment that are available to you.

Please follow diligently all the above activities on regularly basis. These steps will ensure that you are well prepared for your bright and brilliant career ahead.

Printed books vs digital books is an ongoing topic of discussion. There are and will remain educationists who support printed books as well as electronic books (eBooks). With the increasing number of tech-savvy people, all service providers are digitizing their services in order to cater to this huge community of digital users.

Publishing is also one such industry which has stepped foot in the digital era to make reading more convenient for students and youngsters.

Schools and Corporates are increasingly switching towards eBooks as they are better equipped to provide an engaging learning and training experience to users. Digital Publishing has been overshadowing print versions for a while now. But print publishers are still standing strong despite the bombardment of digital devices and their apparently burgeoning popularity.

Upon comparing both, one finds that although printed hardcover books are much loved for their originality, the feel of holding an actual book is very comforting. E Books on the other hand are more functional and fare far better as far as ease of using it is concerned. Let us see how advantageous eBooks are over the conventional paper books.

Advantages of EBooks

1. Single Device, Unlimited Books:

eBooks are portable and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. Instead of carrying multiple bulky books, one eBook reader can hold thousands of eBooks. It saves a lot of space in your home and in your bag. There are no storage limit hassles.

2. Accessibility:

They are easily accessible. One can carry the eBook around and use them at our own convenience and place. Students can read the learning material at home and even while on the move. Some eBooks come with the choice of offline accessibility, allowing students to access it even if they are offline.

3. Comforting to the Eyes:

Latest eReaders have features where one can adjust the brightness of the screen according to the time of the day and depending upon your preferences. Many eReaders even have read in the dark feature, with lights that won’t strain your eyes, and neither would they disturb others around you. You can even alter the fonts and size of the text as per your comfort.

4. Interactive Features:

EBooks with interactive features make the reading experience a more pleasant one. They can be embedded with audio and videos. External links can be added to offer additional information. One can even bookmark a certain page or find a word in a quick and effortless way. There are numbers similar features that can be included to enhance the overall studying experience.

5. Amplifying Reality Experience:

Augmented reality has taken the eBook experience to the next level. Texts and images can now be embedded with an augmented three-dimensional visual which pops up on the user’s screen. Readers can view a computer-generated 3D model of the image, which makes reading and learning a much more absorbing experience.

The user only has to point the device at the image or text, and an enhanced version of the image will appear on the screen.

6. Affordability in the Long Run:

There is a general misconception that since it’s a new technology and new device, the cost would be higher than that of printed books. But, on the contrary, eBooks cost much less than printed books. Because there’s not much of pre-production involved like that in printed books. No paperback covers, no paper printing, no packaging cost, no shipping. So eventually it becomes much economical than a printed book.

Disadvantages of e-books

1. Considering the increasing screen time the children are subjected to these days on HD screens, it becomes reason to stress their eyes at an early age.

2. It is not easy to give away expensive devices such as tab, laptops to children alone to read an e-book.

3. It has been observed that kids interact less with parents when they read an e-book. This may lead to lack of proper interpretation of the topic or subject being misunderstood by them.

4. Children at times begin to communicate less while reading more and more e-books as they develop a habit of listening to the content every time and there's no discussion as such.

Different researchers have reached upon different conclusions on whether an e-book improves upon child's skills or not but what most researchers have agreed upon is that eBook should not be used as a replacement of textbooks especially school books. Research too has proven that better understanding of the concept comes from reading the matter on your own which can be further be elaborated using video or animated demonstrations.

The COVID-19 pandemic swiftly gained momentum the need for the schools to switch to online classes from traditional in-person classes. This is the need of the hour and the best mitigation plan. Students have found it challenging to acclimatize to this new normal. Studying at home is an expedition itself. When you find yourself amidst family members and other domestic distractions, it is not easy to adjust to the strict schedule. Its an effort to grasping and concentrate. But, you have no choice except to cope up! This article provides some awesome habits that you must include in your daily routine and see the difference yourself.

Set up a Routine

Create a healthy routine instead of doing random activities throughout the day. Include daily exercise, yoga, meditation, grooming, power naps, etc. in your regime. When you have a stable routine, you tend to stay fresh and are invigorated to concentrate on your studies.

Identify a Comfortable Study Zone

Identify a quiet corner at your home to attend classes as well as study. Make sure that there is a demarcation between your study area and leisure place. This will make you feel more relaxed while recreation time and also you will be more focused during your study time.. When you go for relaxation ,you should totally cut off yourself from studies as this recreation time will make you feel rejuvenated.

Attend Online Classes Regularly

Be true to your teachers and online school classes. Avoid switching off the webcam on your computers/tabs being visible throughout the class provides an extra edge to the students. Make notes of the concepts your teacher explains to you. Compare these notes with the content given in the CBSE books as you might have missed some important ones in the class.

Practice! Practice! Practice!

Regular practice of what has been taught in the online class is crucial to retain whatever you have studies. So purchase and practice through the 2021-22 edition of Sanjiv Prakashan books and practice the pool of questions given with the accurate solutions in those books.

Keep a strict tab on your food intake

Maintain a healthy and balanced diet throughout the day. Take proper sleep of 7-8 hours every night. Ensure that you do not eat and watch TV at the same time, exercise and chat at the same time, study and eat simultaneously. Make a schedule and try to stick to that.

Meet and Greet Your Friends

Talk to others! These are tough times but we all have to talk and share as we all in the same boat. Communicate with your friends, family, classmates and instructors about how you are feeling, and what help you may need. Talk to your friends and share your concerns and laugh over silly jokes . Spend time with your family and make the most of the time. Make it a healthy and entertaining one! Use social media platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, etc.) once in a while. Use video chats to destress yourself.

Focus on your Success

Stay focused, take small steps each day . Each day, focus on positive things that happen, whether they are big or small. Don’t get distracted from your aim but at the same time don’t stress yourself. You are bound to succeed.

Wish you good luck!