I have been a college student for about five years now and I have seen a lot.  At the beginning of my college career, I got off onto the wrong foot.  I didn’t have anyone to give me any advice and I ended up underachieving.  When I shifted to being an online student, I became more observant and decided to change my luck.  Thus, my top 10 tips for college students (both face-to-face and online):

10.  Use periodical search engines.  You might think that periodicals (magazines, journals, etc.) are a joke but a lot of great information can be found through a periodical search engine.  Many colleges and universities have subscriptions to periodical search engines, such as LexisNexis, but they don’t publicize that they are available for use.  If you want to find out if your school has a subscription, swing by the library or book store and inquire.  It will help a lot with research.

9.  Google really is a treasure trove.  Everyone seems to always underestimate the power of Google.  The Google search is honed to give useful information to the searcher so it’s no surprise that (most of the time) it’s dead on.  Need help studying for your final?  Use Google to get studying tips and even answers to the questions on your review.  The possibilities are limitless.

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How healthy is your life?  In a world where you are constantly bombarded with commercials for fast food and where the television programming is getting more intriguing, it’s tough to stay ahead of the game and continue to live a healthier life.  Everything around you tells you not to worry about your health but it’s a well-known fact that if you take care of your body now, you will thank yourself in the future.  Whether you live a healthy life now or are interested in starting, these ten tips will help you to live for your future.

1. Exercise Regularly – This is probably one of the most important aspects of staying healthy.  You don’t need to workout three times a day to stay in shape.  Instead, try a variety of activities (running, biking, aerobics, etc.) in order to give your body a chance to get itself in shape.
2. Eat Moderately – I can tell you from experience, eating healthy is not easy and, believe it or not, you don’t need to in order to live a healthier life.  The key is moderation.  Instead of eating fast food four times a week, try to gradually cut back to once or twice.
3. Partner Up – Accountability is another important aspect of becoming healthier.  Find someone who shares your same goals and interests and hold each other accountable in your quest to be healthier.  It can go a long way.
4. Get Sleep – Your body should get six to eight hours of sleep each night in order to function properly the next day.  If not, you’ll be feeling tired, worn out, and irritable.  Getting plenty of sleep at night is a key part of staying healthy.
5. Eat Breakfast – Eating breakfast is essential to starting your day in a healthy manner.  You should eat a balanced breakfast but, in the end, anything is better than nothing.  Too busy in the morning to stop and eat?  Invest in some miniature cereal packets or cereal bars.
6. Brain Exercises – Not only should your muscles be exercised in order to stay healthy, but you should exercise your brain, too.  Problem solving, creative thinking, and logic games are a great way to check this off of your list.
7. Lifestyle Choices – Researchers estimate that 70% – 80% of your life expectancy is based upon your lifestyle choices – drinking, smoking, eating, sleeping, and exercising (just to name a few).  If you’d like to start living a healthier life, changing your lifestyle habits would be a huge step in the right direction.

The term “bucket list” is pretty common these days.  In case you’ve never heard of it before, it means a list of events or activities you’d like to take part in before you “kick the bucket.”  There was a fairly good movie made of the same name a few years ago starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson and the idea of having a “bucket list” caught on.  At the time, I didn’t really think much of have such a list, mainly because you never know when you’re going to leave Earth.  Why rush to get tons of things done in a span of two or three years when you could have just spread it out?

But, then I got to thinking, “Why not just make a list of things you’d like to do sometime in your life?” So, I did it.  Well, kind of.  The best part about it is that I’m already able to check one thing off of my list.

If you’re expecting a firm list of items that I’d like to accomplish within my life, you’re going to be somewhat disappointed.  Right now, I only have a few “things to do” in my mind, not on paper and as I mentioned before, one of those items can be crossed off – giving blood.

My church recently hosted a blood drive and at first I was reluctant to give because of fear.  Not of needles, but of just the process overall.  I didn’t know how much they would take or if I would be the only one giving.  It turns out, all my questions were answered and I was in good company for the whole process.  It made me feel great looking down at the bandage on my arm and knowing that I will save a life one day.

The other items on my “Big Picture Things To Do” list will come over time – getting promoted to a management position, getting married and having a family, and meeting the President of the United States.  I’m in no rush to complete these activities because I know that they will come in their own time and if they are part of my life course.

I challenge you to create a “Big Picture Things To Do” list and work toward accomplishing all of the items on the list.  There is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment and a sense of completion.  Why not dream big?

I recently had an awesome interaction with a fellow banking customer at my local chain.  I had just finished donating blood and needed to cash a check that I recently received.  As I was approaching the glass doors, an older gentleman crossed my path and simply stated, “Good afternoon, young man.”  Here is how our conversation continued:

Eric:  “Good morning, sir.  How are you today?”
Bank Man:  “Well, I’m actually not too good.  None of the ATMs are working that I go to.  It makes me want to switch banks.”
E:  “I totally understand that.  If that happened to me, I would want to put my money in a bank that had working equipment.  Hopefully this ATM is different.”
BM:  “I hope so, too.  You know, you’re a first class kinda guy.  You just turned my day around.”
E:  “I enjoyed talking to you, too and I am glad I turned things around for you.  Have a good day!”
BM:  “You too.”

As I continued into the bank, I couldn’t help but smile.  Just by listening to this man, I played a part in turning his day around.  Believe it or not, empathy can truly turn a conversation around. You don’t need to get results or do anything, just listen and empathize.

This conversation made me start thinking:  What if we all empathized with the bigger picture in mind? Would our daily interactions lead to better moods?  Would we become servants and not selfish?

Random Encounter Challenge: Try empathizing and listening to someone today that you encounter, whether it’s a stranger or the person in the cube across from you at work.  See  if it increases the value of your interaction and your relationship with that person.

Did you take the challenge?  If so, how did it work out?  Have you empathized in the past?   What results did you see?  Tell us below in the comments!