Student Life Styled by Miranda

Author: pohlmmab

  • Move Your Body, Clear Your Mind: How Exercise Improves Mental Well-Being

    Move Your Body, Clear Your Mind: How Exercise Improves Mental Well-Being

    College life can get overwhelming fast, with classes, deadlines, and constant pressure piling up. One of the easiest ways to clear your mind and feel better is through regular exercise. Even small bursts of movement can boost your mood, sharpen focus, and help you handle the demands of college with more ease. Here’s how exercise can help you as a college student –

    Boosts Blood Flow to the Brain

    Physical activity increases circulation, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to your brain.This helps you improve your focus and cognitive function, which is necessary for productive studying! Next time you are needing a boost of energy and motivation, I suggest that you squeeze in a quick workout to get the productivity flowing!

    Releases Mood Boosting Chemicals

    It’s no doubt that students face many different forms of stress during the semester, exercise can help help relieve that. Exercising triggers endorphins and other feel-good neurotransmitters. This response leads to you feeling a reduce in your stress and anxiety levels, which is much needed for college students!

    Reduce Stress and Mental Fatigue

    Not only does it help in that aspect, it also clears your mental fog, which is very beneficial for days that are filled with long study sessions. Movement and exercise helps lower cortisol levels, which eases tension carried in your body and gives your mind a rest! By working out, you are making it easier to think clearly and stay organized, which is a priority when college gets stressful.

    Even a little exercise can make a big difference in how clear, calm, and focused you feel. By adding small moments of movement into your routine, you’ll support your mental well-being and navigate college life with more ease.

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  • Why Sleep Is the Key to Better Grades and Better Health

    Why Sleep Is the Key to Better Grades and Better Health

    Sleep often gets sacrificed in college. Whether that be by pulling all-nighters before exams, or cramming in late night study sessions. It’s something every college student has done before. It can help you check things off your to do list, however it can do more harm than good.

    Sleep Affects Memory & Concentration

    How and Why its Important

    Have you ever heard the saying “sleep on it”? It is actually scientifically proven that sleep helps consolidate what students learn throughout the day. Short term memory is also strengthened during sleep. These important aspects of your health and memory require an adequate amount of REM sleep each night.

    Benefits your Academic Performance

    Sleep and Academics — How they Work Together

    Without sleep, your focus, creativity, and your critical thinking don’t function at the level they should. Your alertness in class and performance on tests are greatly affected by how well you sleep at night. To avoid feeling this way, it is so important for students to get their sleep schedule in check. Put yourself and your academics first, and prioritize your sleep schedule!

    Improve Sleep Quality as a Student

    Optimize your College Night Routine

    The best tip for students who are trying to regulate their sleep schedule is to keep it consistent. That means going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday, even on the weekends. I know that sounds like a challenge, but overtime it will help your body understand when it’s time to wind down. Another beneficial tip is to find ways to relax at night, such as reading, journaling, or watching your favorite show! Doing so will help you calm down, and might help you fall asleep faster!

    I hope you learned about how to manage, control, and improve your sleep schedule as a college student. Take these tips and apply them to your life, and you will hopefully see improvements in your academics as well as feeling well rested!

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  • Caffeine and College: Finding the Right Balance for a Healthy Mind

    Caffeine and College: Finding the Right Balance for a Healthy Mind

    Caffeine isn’t just a pick-me-up — it’s a lifestyle! Morning lattes before class, late-night study sessions fueled by RedBull, and trips to the local coffee shop with friends have become a routine that make college life easier and a lot more bearable! It can feel almost impossible to function without that daily dose of caffeine, but it is important to find the right balance to keep your mind and body healthy!

    The Role That Caffeine Plays

    Hint – It Plays a Huge Role

    Caffeine is so popular to students for plenty of reasons. It helps your brain and body wake up faster, which comes in handy almost everyday. Caffeine is there to assist you, whether thats during a late night study session, trying to wake up for your 8AM class, or when you need that afternoon pick me up!

    According to a 2025 article, 92% of college students consume caffeine daily. This percentage is extremely high, but it does not surprise me. For more information and interesting coffee stats, check out Corner Coffee Store!

    Corner Coffee Store - Statistics

    The Negative Effects of Caffeine

    Overloading Energy Drinks & Coffee isn’t Healthy

    Overconsumption of caffeine can make you feel anxious, jittery, and dehydrated. It can also contribute to you having a “caffeine crash” and disturb your sleep schedule. Relying on caffeine can negatively affect your academic performance, concentration, and mood.

    Your body sends you signs that you are overdoing your caffeine intake. Headaches, irritability, brain fog, and fatigue when skipping caffeine are all huge signs that your mind and body might need a slight break from caffeine. These side affects and symptoms do not sound pleasant and are not great to deal with. Below are some ways to incorporate a healthy amount of caffeine into your college life!

    Healthy and Smart Caffeine Intake

    Balanced and Healthy Ways that Help Your Mind

    Healthier caffeine habits include limiting caffeine after 2 p.m and drinking water alongside your caffeine of choice. It is also a good idea to reach for a “healthier alternative”, such as a Bloom Prebiotic Energy Drink or a Bubbl’r Antioxidant Energy Drink. Taking caffeine breaks to reset your tolerance is also recommended!

    Everyone loves a delicious cup of coffee or an ice cold energy drink. However, overdoing it can cause damage to your mind and body. I hope this article taught you about the effects of caffeine and how to enjoy it in moderation as a college student!!

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  • Mid-Semester Slump? Here’s How to Keep Going Strong

    Mid-Semester Slump? Here’s How to Keep Going Strong

    Tons of students hit this wall around midterms or just before finals. Feelings of exhaustion, stress, low motivation become more prevalent in your everyday life. Especially when the days get shorter and there is less sunlight, it’s hard to feel motivated. I wrote out some strategies to help students keep going in times like this!


    Revisit Your Why

    Motivation often comes from reconnecting with purpose

    Reminding yourself of your long-term goals can give you just the motivation boost that you need. Why you chose your major, what you’re working toward, and what you are doing to accomplish those goals are all great reminders of why you are pushing so hard!

    Adjust Your Routine, Don’t Overhaul It

    Use planners, to-do lists, and calendar apps to stay organized

    Sometimes implementing small tweaks in your schedule work better when you’re tired and drained. Some examples of this include setting realistic daily goals instead of overwhelming to-do lists, studying for shorter time periods, and changing your study environment!

    Take Care of Your Body & Mind

    Mental breaks are important, it’s okay to rest without guilt

    Sleep, nutrition, and movement are directly tied to focus and motivation. These elements all play a crucial role in how you feel everyday. When you are taking care of yourself, your body is able to go the extra mile in all aspects of your life! It is so important you prioritize these aspects, I promise you will feel so much better!

    Lean on Your Support System

    So many people in your life are rooting for you!

    Reaching out to friends, classmates, or professors can make your feel supported in so many ways, even if it’s just a simple conversation! Connection helps, even when you don’t realize it

    I also encourage you to use your campus resources! There is always counseling centers, tutoring, or study groups to lend a helping hand!

    Remember – slumps are temporary

    I encourage students to take small, consistent steps during the next couple weeks of the semester! Persistence, hard work, and dedication pays off tremendously. Every completed assignment, exam, and study session is a step in the right directions!

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  • Need Some New Study Tips? You’re in the Right Place!

    Need Some New Study Tips? You’re in the Right Place!

    Finding the study methods and habits that work for you can seem like a trial and error process. You don’t have to study harder — you just need the right strategies! Once you find what works for you, it is a total game changer. Whether you’re trying to survive midterms, boost your GPA, or stop cramming before tests, these study tips will help you focus smarter, stay organized, and actually enjoy the process of studying!

    Putting Your Phone Away

    Out of Sight – Out of Mind 📱

    My phone can be a huge distraction when I am studying or trying to get assignments done. Picking up your phone to check 1 notification can lead to an endless Tik-Tok scroll and disrupt your productivity. I have found that putting my phone on Do Not Disturb and setting it in my backpack or somewhere across the room if very beneficial! This helps the temptation of picking it up and starting to scroll

    Rewriting Notes in Your Own Words

    Not just memorize material – but fully understand it!

    Instead of rereading your notes, try rewriting them in a way that makes sense to you! This promotes active recall in your brain. Changing information into your own words forces your brain to process and understand it — not just memorize it.

    My favorite way to practice this is to write on a whiteboard. Most college libraries or study rooms provide students with whiteboards on campus! I encourage you to try it out next time you have an exam coming up!

    The Pomodoro Study Technique

    25 Minutes of studying – 5 minutes of break time

    This technique is very beneficial, whether that be for studying or crossing assignments off your to do list! Your study time into focused 25-minute sessions, followed by a 5-minute break. It keeps your brain fresh and helps you power through big tasks without burning out and losing motivation! Those short breaks are perfect for stretching your body, grabbing a snack, or checking your phone!

    Find the Perfect Study Environment

    Libraries, Coffee Shops, & Study Rooms – try them all!

    I have learned that changing your environment when studying actually does a lot more than you think. Switching the location up keeps studying from becoming boring and helps your brain stay focused and ready to absorb new information! There are plenty of places on your college campus that are perfect study locations, go try them out!

    Find a Study Buddy

    Grab your roommate, classmate, or your friends!

    Studying with someone else can keep you accountable and make learning more fun! Personally, I have found that it promotes my motivation and pushes me to get more assignments done! Quizzing each other, sharing notes, or just study in silence together is more helpful than you realize!

    As most colleges are past the halfway mark of the semester, it is inevitable that students are going to lose some motivation. That is why trying out new study methods might boost productivity and promote motivation for burnt out students! These study tips are all ones that I highly recommend trying out for yourself! Thank you for reading!

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  • A College Student’s Ultimate Grocery List – Healthy and Budget Friendly

    A College Student’s Ultimate Grocery List – Healthy and Budget Friendly

    Navigating grocery shopping as a college student seems like a challenge at first. Finding products that aren’t processed and filled with unnecessary additives seems nearly impossible at times. After some practice, my roommates and I have found great products and ingredients that make amazing meals and snacks! In this article, I will share our typical grocery list that is filled with nutrient rich foods that last without us having to go back to the store!

    You might be wondering where we get these groceries, I have found Aldi to be the best store for us! They offer budget friendly prices and high quality food, how can it get better than that?

    Protein

    If you are an athlete or an active college student, you know how important it is to meet your daily protein goals!

    At Aldi, we typically reach for turkey lunch meat, chicken breasts, and ground beef! Turkey makes for great lunches in between classes, I have found it beneficial to throw it in a salad or make sandwiches. Chicken breasts, shredded chicken, and ground beef are so versatile when creating meals for dinner and will last for a good amount of time in the freezer too. Buffalo chicken dip, tacos, and burger bowls are our go to when preparing these meats!

    Produce

    Full of antioxidants, essential vitamins, and fibers that are so good for you!

    Fruits and Veggies are my favorite part of the grocery trip! I absolutely love having a fresh restock of all my favorite fruits! At the store, we typically reach for oranges, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, and blackberries! We combine most of those fruits to make the perfect fruit salad, which adds some vitamins to your breakfast and goes great with lunches!

    For vegetables, we love to keep lettuce, tomato, and cucumbers on hand! Again, these ingredients are so versatile and great for you to have in general!

    Carbs

    Everyone loves a healthy amount of carbs, and it just completes the meal!

    Bagel, bread (specifically sourdough), and tortillas are a must have for quick meals in college. Tortillas are always a great option because you can create wraps, burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. Aldi has the best sourdough for a great price, so that has been our favorite thing lately!

    Dairy

    Grabbing essential dairy products at the store helps your intake of nutrients and calcium stay at a good level!

    Products like milk, eggs, cheese, and yogurt are great products to incorporate into your diet! The are essential for delicious recipes and great things to have on hand in your fridge! Usually it takes us awhile to get through these so we don’t have run out of these products too fast!

    It is so important to give your body healthy and balanced food options, which is why we absolutely love shopping at Aldi! Those are the Go-To products that my roommates and I have found so beneficial for us and our meal prep! Not only does this grocery list fuel us with nutrients, it is also balanced and completed with all the different food groups!

    I encourage you to incorporate some of these finds into your grocery list! Thank you for reading, make sure you follow along for more!

  • Fuel Your Body Right – Eating Healthy in College

    Fuel Your Body Right – Eating Healthy in College

    College life can be so busy at times, but what you eat plays a huge role in keeping your energy and health in check. In this article, I will tell you my Go-To meals and snacks I eat as a college student trying to prioritize health and wellness! Whether that be making a meal, grabbing food between classes, or trying to balance late nights and early mornings. I will tell you how I fuel my body so I feel my best each day!

    Breakfast

    What you eat in the morning sets you up for success!

    Breakfast is such an important way to start the day as a college student. What you eat provides you with energy and helps with focus during your classes. Here are my favorite things to eat for breakfast that are healthy and filling!

    • Greek Yogurt Bowl with Fruit and Granola – so filling and so tasty!
    • Kodiak Protein Muffin Cups – perfect amount of protein for the morning + such good flavor
    • Oatmeal – so versatile, can add peanut butter or fruit to make it even more tasty!
    • Bagel with Cream Cheese – this has been a staple breakfast for me for so long! Super quick and super filling

    Lunch & Dinner

    As a college student, the most beneficial meals are a quick, filling, and balanced!

    Now that I am navigating meal planning and finding my own recipes to make, it is important for recipes to take the least amount of time but still have all the most amount of nutrients I can get. I have learned that meals in college are all about balance and getting all your main food groups in for the day! Below are some of my go-to meals that don’t take a whole lot of time to make!

    • Turkey + Cheese Flatbread – this has been my go-to forever! I love to add lettuce, tomato, and hot sauce to dress it up. Adding some fruit or chips on the side makes for the perfect lunch!
    • Burger Bowls/Taco Bowls – Filled with vegetables, protein, and the perfect amount of carbs to leave you feeling full. These are require a lower maintenance prep and amazing to have as leftovers!
    • Air Fryer Chicken Tenders – Perfect for on top of salads, in a wrap, with pasta, or just by them selves! Once you find a good brand to buy, they are easy to throw in the air fryer and enjoy!
    • Sushi Bowls – These are so fun to have and so fun to make when you want to switch up what you normally eat! These also have the perfect amount of veggies and protein!

    Snacks

    Throughout long classes and study sessions snacks help you stay focused and energized!

    Listed below are some of my most favorite things to snack on throughout the day! These are easy to grab and go to work, class, after a workout, or just to have throughout the day!

    • Rice Cakes + Peanut Butter – these make for the most perfect after workout snack, plus they are so easy to throw together!
    • Perfect Bars – These have been my recent obsession and filled with the perfect amount of protein. They are great for on the go too!
    • Fruit – so simple yet so good! Making a fruit salad with strawberries, orange slices, apples, blueberries, raspberries and other fruits makes for the perfect side or quick snack during the day!
    • Baked Chips – I love a good salty snack, so a little bag of chips is the perfect thing for me to have! These also come in so many different flavors
    • Fruit Snacks – these are perfect to throw in your backpack and enjoy whenever you need a little sweet treat!

    These are all some of the foods I eat to keep my body fueled for classes, workouts, and all that the busy college life brings! I hope this gave you a little inspiration for some balanced meals and snacks to eat throughout the week!

  • Your College Wellness Routine Starts Here! 3 Simple, Effective Workouts

    Your College Wellness Routine Starts Here! 3 Simple, Effective Workouts

    As a college student, I understand that getting yourself to the gym can be challenging. Squeezing a gym session in between classes and studying isn’t always ideal, but going to the gym will have so much benefit for you, more than you realize! Today, I will talk about my 3 Go-To workouts as a college student. These activities are quick and all under 40 minutes, but will still build muscle and give you a quality workout that will be effective for your body!

    Effective Cardio Workouts

    Taking a walk through campus, using the stair master, or going for a run is a healthy and efficient way to train your cardio!

    In high school, I ran track and cross country, so I have a very strong love for cardio workouts! Walking, running, and cycling are all cardio workouts that can burn calories fast and help your body feel great. Lately if I am wanting to do a cardio workout, my roommates and I will take a 1 to 2 Mile walk around campus! This makes for a quicker session, around 25 to 40 minutes, while still working your cardiovascular health and your muscles! So if your are looking for a simple yet effective cardio session, grab your walking shoes and head outside!

    Simple + Functional Strength Training

    Body weight exercises and lifting weights are a great option if you are looking to build and target certain muscle groups!

    While on the Iowa Central Dance team, I grew to love lifting and strength training and found out how rewarding the process can be! Now that I am navigating lifting without a coach, I have put together a list of specific lifts that target specific muscle groups. Like most people who lift, I have an upper body day, a lower body day, and a full body day. When lifting, I pick 3 main lifts to do, then finish with an ab workout!

    For an upper body day, I do exercises that target muscle groups such as my shoulders, chest, triceps, and biceps. Bench press, bicep curl, overhead press, and tricep kickback are some of my favorites to do at the gym! Lower body day is also one of my favorite days at the gym, I try to do a lower body workout at least once a week! The exercises I do for lower body are squats, lunges, and calf raises. Full body days are also beneficial for when you want to hit all the main muscle groups in one workout session. They are perfect if you know you might not have time to lift in the next couple days. Full body days for me usually consist of good mornings or deadlifts, then pick which exercises I wan to do from my Upper and Lower body days!

    Light but Efficient Flexibility and Yoga

    Lighter impact workouts benefit you by improving mobility and long-term health, is also reduces soreness and lowers the risk of injury.

    As I mentioned before, dance has played a significant role in my life. It taught me the importance of stretching and flexibility from a young age. These elements of working out benefit the entire body and lay a strong foundation for success in both strength training and cardio workouts. That’s why yoga and Pilates are a great option for a lower impact workout! They not only help burn calories but also leave your muscles feeling refreshed and rejuvenated afterward! So I encourage you to grab a yoga mat and find a yoga/pilates video next time your muscle need a little refresh

    These workouts are all beneficial to me with being short enough to fit in my daily routine but long enough to get an efficient and great workout in! Be sure to check out my Instagram and TikTok pages where I will take you along for what a typical workout looks like for me! Thank you for reading!

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  • Balancing School, Socials, and Self-Care

    Balancing School, Socials, and Self-Care

    College life is all about balance!

    Having an overflowing To-Do list can make you feel like you are drowning in school work. This is something that is almost unavoidable as a student and bound to happen to everyone at some point. Here are just a few ways you can better balance your life in college!

    I view school, my social life, and self care as the top 3 important things to maximize and balance while in college. Managing all 3 at once can be challenging for everyone, so here are some tips on how to juggle your academics, social life, and your personal wellness!

    Managing your Classwork

    How to balance all of your class work, even when you have an overwhelming amount of work to do

    I am a currently a Junior in college, and over the years I have found what schedule and strategies that help me stay organized and on top of all my class work! The thing I find most effective is a planner. Writing out my plans, my schedule, and all my assignments at the beginning of the week helps me visualize all the things that must get done. I find my planner very helpful to look back on throughout the week, it keeps me on task and prevents me from falling behind in my classes. Planners definitely help me balance my life life in college.

    The second thing I find most helpful is managing my due dates by difficulty. Prioritizing my assignments by difficultly was something that I wasn’t the best at when I was a first year college student. I found that completing the more time consuming assignments before others made a big difference. Once it was off my plate, I felt relieved and more motivated to take on the rest of my assignments. I now practice this habit weekly and it has definitely made a difference in my productivity!

    Staying on top of your Social Life

    Most Students view social life as one of the most important aspects of college, learn how to better balance that below

    Keeping up with all of your relationships in and outside of college can be challenging. A good approach that I have implemented in my everyday life is to social activities, but incorporate studying or other priorities of yours. Whether that be go to a workout class with a friend, join a study group, or find small sections of your week to devote to those who are important to you. Quality interactions and quality time with friends and family often matter more than quantity.

    Prioritizing Yourself & Self-Care

    Put yourself first when balancing your life in college

    Taking care of your body and mind is the key to being your best self. When there is a lot expected out of you in aspects such as school and social life, it is more than important to put yourself first. Taking care of your body starts with the basics, that means getting enough sleep, eating balanced meals, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly. My favorite way to incorporate self care in my everyday life is by working out. Regular exercise can improve your focus, reduce your stress, and give you more energy throughout the day. Even if your daily movement is just a walk across campus, you are still setting your body and mind up for success! I encourage you to find which outlet of self care helps you out the most!

    Being a college student can often feel like a trial and error process, some tips and tricks do not work the same for everyone. Now that you have gathered some more ideas on how to balance your life in college, don’t be afraid to test them out and implement them into your weekly schedule! Be sure to follow along on my other platforms for more content!

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  • About Student Life Styled

    About Student Life Styled

    Welcome to Student Life Styled!

    My name is Miranda Pohlman, and I am a Marketing and Digital Advertising Student at the University of Northern Iowa!

    Student Life Styled is a space for college students who are passionate about balancing the college experience with overall health & wellness. My goal is to help students achieve balance in their life while forming healthy habits and staying on top the stress of school!

    Staying active is something that can be challenging to manage while being a student. I have been in dance for 10+ years, so that comes with having to develop a lot of time management skills. Being apart of a dance team teaches you countless lessons that are not only beneficial on the dance floor, but that can be applied in real life too. I want to take the life lesson that I have learned from dance and communicate those to other college students who may need a little guidance on how to achieve balance in their daily life. I am a Junior in college, so I gone through plenty of trial and error in trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle whilst being busy with other aspects of my life. My goal is to be a guide and a sense of motivation for other college students who want to be active but do not know how to balance it all quite yet. So, if you are in college, live an active lifestyle, and want to build your overall health and wellness, this is the place for you! Follow along for more content!