Healthy Habits for Healthy Grades

It’s easy to lose sight of regular routines in b-school. Finding time to get a good night’s sleep, regular exercise, and setting healthy boundaries is even harder when you have case studies to read and exams to prepare for.

The Financial Times’ André Spicer recently discussed steps MBAs can take to help them make healthy lifestyle choices to get the most out of b-school.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

When it comes down to it, sleep is critical for any kind of performance. And that includes academic performance.

Spicer cites a study done by MIT professors which finds that sleep quality, duration, and consistency are associated with better academic performance.

According to the study, “sleep duration and quality for the month and the week before a test correlated with better grades. Sleep measures accounted for nearly 25% of the variance in academic performance.”

EXERCISE

Spicer cites a number of studies showing that a good workout routine correlates with classroom performance.

A study of Purdue college students found that college students who visited campus gyms at least 16 times a month earned a GPA of 3.10 or higher.

SETTING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES

It’s difficult to set boundaries as a b-school student. With exams, social life, and work, boundaries can become blurred.

According to the studies cited by Spicer, students who are able to set clear boundaries between their studies and the rest of life tend to perform better in class.

“Although boundaries can be difficult to maintain, they help students know when they need to focus on work and when they can kick back and relax,” Spicer writes. “Boundaries can also help students stop anxieties about school taking over their entire life.”

Sources: Financial Times, npj Science of Learning, Purdue University