Tag Archives: Nightlife

The Main Reasons Why Alcohol & Drugs Will Affect Your Academic Performance… Badly

I drink too much. Last time I gave a urine sample, it had an olive in it.”

– Rodney Dangerfield, U.S. comedian

Ask your parents if they drank too much alcohol during their time at college, and their replies will vary somewhere between the complete, swear-on-the-Holy-Bible and God’s honest truth kind of answer, and the blatant, downright lie. Ask them if they did drugs, however, and, chances are, pretty much all those responses would probably get thrown out in a court of law, with the judge threatening contempt.

Hey, Mom, you ever get stoned? Were you a pothead in college, Dad?

Not the conversation to be had at the evening dinner table at the end of a long day, unless your Mom and Dad are going through a period of enlightened California-style parenting. For many parents of kids in college, it wasn’t that they drank or did drugs during their time. It’s more a case of they got through college in spite of them. Perhaps, just like what you’re doing.

I’ll be honest. College, when I was younger, was a blur. My memory of it now is just a retail collection of moments like old polaroids – putting them together in some semblance of order is the problem.

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Andy, I’m a mid-thirties digital marketing entrepreneur, running a successful agency, who, for over 9 years now, has lived a completely clean and sober life. No alcohol, no drugs, no nada. Just abstinence.

However, for the vast majority of my adolescent years, I was an alcoholic and a drug addict, saved only my own Mom and Dad finally threw me on the backseat of the family car, drove me to the next state over, and deposited what was left of their son, hopeless addict, physical and mental wreck, and an ex-con to boot, on the steps of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.

Get busy living, Andy, and all that. So I did, and I gave rehab everything.

6 months later, I emerged, clean, sober, physically and mentally the fittest I’d ever been or felt, and now with a decent education. I had majored in addiction, and in rehab, I learned as much as I could about this chronic, sometimes fatal disease that nearly took my life – it’s amazing what you can do with a clear head.

If you want to know how drugs and alcohol will negatively affect your academic performance, read on. If you’re reading this, and thinking, “You know what, Andy? You seem like a nice guy, and I’m glad you turned your life around, and all that. To be honest, though, I don’t really care,” then what follows will make you care.

Let’s look at the 2 most popular substances used, and often abused, on any U.S. campus, and why they will affect your academic performance… badly:

  • Alcohol, and
  • Marijuana

The intoxication from both will continue to have a detrimental effect on a student’s cognitive function – primarily, attention, concentration, and memory – for around 48 hours afterward. In other words, get drunk on the Friday night, because you’ve got exams on Monday to study for, and the weekend is your only revision time left, and you’ve just shot your academic self in the foot.

Serious abuse of both can lead to the spiral of addiction, and I’m sure you don’t want to have that conversation with Mom and Dad…

Alcohol

Memory: As described above, heavy drinking will affect cognitive function long after you wake up with the obligatory hangover, and will probably mean you start the day with a positive blood alcohol level as well as your pounding head. This alcohol still present in your system directly affects your ability to process and store new information – to fully understand it, and then to successfully retain it in its entirety.

For the biology students out there, “intoxication is produced by a temporary impairment of brain receptors key in creating long-term memories in the hippocampus“, says Duke University’s Jeff Georgi, an Alcohol and Addictions Program coordinator at the school. “If you study for four hours…then go drinking, it affects this anchoring process.”

Sleep: Alcohol messes with your sleep too. Normal sleep cycle interference results in irritability, fatigue, and an increase in anxiety, all of which will directly affect a student’s learning ability for up to 48 hours.

Stress: As the old joke goes, alcohol is only a solution if you’re a chemist. In reality, alcohol doesn’t stop stress, or “academic success-anxiety,” just the symptoms of it – temporarily. By actually not self-medicating with alcohol or drugs, you are giving yourself a far better chance to naturally resolve what is causing the stress.

Marijuana

Memory, Concentration, & Attention: As described above, marijuana use (well, pretty much all drug use) will affect cognitive function long after you wake up, directly affecting your ability to simply pay attention and, indeed, concentrate in the classroom, and then being able to store that information in your memory.

Sleep: When used in the evening and at night time, marijuana is pretty much the same as alcohol when it comes to your sleep cycle, resulting in increases in irritability, fatigue, and anxiety, again, directly affecting learning ability. 

Motivation: Now, if you’re sat there reading this, and you’re a little surprised by the use of the word “motivation,” oh, please… Seriously, there is mounting evidence that marijuana use affects your motivation, likely due to a combination neuronal suppression (the hippocampus, again), the blocking of nutrients through cells, and fatigue following disturbed sleep.

Anxiety: Although not an academic reason, it’s worth mentioning that marijuana use increases heart rate, weakens the heart muscle, and increases blood pressure – all of which should concern someone already diagnosed with anxiety. However, as with self-medicating with alcohol, marijuana does nothing to resolve the issues creating your anxiety and stress.

No Lecture

There you have them – the main reasons why alcohol and drugs will affect your academic performance… badly. Forego the alcohol consumption (if you’re binge drinking, and college students have been known to do that on a regular basis, please cut it out of your life – it’s seriously dangerous), and forego getting stoned in the belief it will only do you good. You’ll feel better, and perform better academically without them.

Without these substances, you’ll feel so much better, you’ll be naturally happier, you’ll be more attentive, you’ll be able to concentrate fully, and you’ll enjoy a better memory. As a college student striving for academic success, it makes sense, doesn’t it?

How does alcohol or marijuana use affect your academic performance, or do you believe it doesn’t? Let us know by sharing a comment below.

Where to visit near Bali

Wondering where to visit near Bali? Lombok's version of Kuta is a great start ... photo by CC user Tanti Ruwani on Flickr

Visiting Bali soon, but want to see a bit more of Indonesia than this uber-popular island? Next door, there is an island by the name of Lombok that has many of the natural and cultural charms that Bali has, but without the hustle and bustle that can plague much of Bali today.

Wondering what places you should visit here if you have a week to spare there? The following destinations will give you an island to rave about to friends back home that isn’t as well known as Bali (giving you those all-important bragging rights when it comes to travel)…

1) Senggigi

If you’re looking where to visit near Bali where you can access most of the conveniences that you come to expect from a tourist destination, then Senggigi is the place where you’ll want to hang your hat during your stay in Lombok.

While it is nowhere near as built up as Kuta, Seminyak or Ubud on Bali, Senggigi is home to enough restaurants, cafes, bars, and karaoke parlors to keep those in need of constant stimulation busy, and with tons of tours and cooking classes available through tour agencies, those seeking a bit more action will be well catered for as well.

2) Gili Islands

Senggigi has a beach that is good enough for some, but if you consider yourself a connoisseur of these seaside attractions, then taking a day trip to the Gili Islands (three are inhabited: Trawangan, Air and Meno) will satisfy your longing for beauty in this aspect of nature.

Diving and snorkeling are popular in the reefs located off these isles, while those looking to get their day drink on will find no shortage of venues to do the job on Gili Trawangan.

Those looking for a more chill atmosphere will find it on Air and Meno, which have not been as overrun by the party crowd as Trawangan has.

3) Kuta (Lombok)

Those fearing the hawkers, noise and insane traffic of the Kuta on Bali will find the complete opposite on Lombok’s version, which remains much more tranquil than its neighbor across the Lombok Strait.

One thing the two towns do have in common is excellent surfing: the breaks here have long served as a refuge for those sick of the scene in Bali, and while its secret does seem to be getting out (oops), it is still a world apart from the party-hearty nature of South Bali, making it a great place to get away from it if it isn’t your cup of tea.

Does an itinerary like this sound great to you, but you haven’t the first clue where to start? Luxury travel planners like eShores (www.eshores.co.uk) specialise in assembling the logistics for trips like these, allowing you to go about your daily life while the professionals plot out the journey of a lifetime.

Rio de Janeiro on a Student’s Budget!

Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain is the perfect way to experience Rio de Janeiro on a student's budget

With South America being one of the world’s most popular travel destinations for budget travelers, it makes sense that at some point, you might find yourself bound on a plane or bus for Brazil. While much of the continent is affordable for student travelers, Brazil is a notable exception, with prices in the nation approaching first world prices in recent years.

That being said, it is still very possible to enjoy this country and its liveliest city, Rio de Janeiro, on a shoestring. While it does cost money to purchase, investing in a Rio de Janeiro city guide will pay you back by uncovering secrets that only a Rio local would normally know about, helping you to get the most from every dollar spent in this internationally significant city.

While it will have many pointers on how to save a buck here, start your budget planning here so you will have an idea on how to experience Rio de Janeiro on a student’s budget.

Hike up Sugarloaf Mountain

Start your trip to Rio by getting the adrenaline pumping on a hike up the area’s most iconic peak. No matter where you are in Rio de Janeiro, Sugarloaf Mountain dominates the skyline, but as nice as it is to look up at this granite monolith, it is quite the experience to gaze down upon the urban chaos that comprises this city from the top of it.

While the true summit of Sugarloaf requires a pricey cable car ride to reach, the lower of the twin peaks is free to access on foot, giving views that are no less impressive than the ones had on the slighter higher point nearby.

Hit up any one of its fabulous beaches

After dropping near your body weight in sweat, you will have earned your dip in the Atlantic at any one of Rio’s world famous beaches. After cooling off, you can continue to carve up the surf on a body, surf, or SUP’ing board (Barra da Tijuca is best for this, with 11 km of surf breaks that gives everybody room to do their thing), or you can indulge in the active social life that takes place at beaches here.

On the latter point, beach soccer and volleyball are available for active types, while others will enjoy having some cervejas (not cervezas … that’s Spanish, Brazilians speak Portuguese) with the animated and very good looking locals.

Of all the beaches in Rio, the best place to take in this scene is at Copacabana and Ipanema, as they are both the focal point of social life on the many excellent days that Rio enjoys during the year.

Go on a favela tour

Unfortunately, not everyone in Rio is having a fabulous life, so if there’s any guided tour to go on while you are here, be sure to go on one to a favela (Do NOT attempt to go to one alone, unless you like being mugged for all your worldly belongings).

These competitively priced tours will show you how less fortunate residents of this city get by every day, even as their well-off neighbors live in luxury next door, with less other than a security fence separating them in some cases. Definitely an eye-opener!

Live it up in Rio after dark without going bankrupt

Before bidding Rio farewell for points further afield in Brazil, party in style without emptying your wallet of Reals. Two places that stand out for an affordable night out here include Cinelândia, which is an outdoor bar set up on a street offering reasonably priced drinks that pair well with street food and local samba musicians, and Lapa, which allows its many bars and clubs to spill out onto the streets.

In a city with such an infectious party spirit, it doesn’t make sense to keep it all bottled up in a building, especially when the weather is so agreeable much of the year.

3 Ideas on how to spend winter break

 You may be wondering: how to spend winter break? Snowboarding is a great way ... just try not to wipe out too much like this derp... :P

With final exams coming up in the next few weeks, you’ve been furiously studying to ensure that you make the most of the crucial marks that remain up for grabs in all of your courses. Somewhere in all that studying and exam writing, you need to pick up a few gifts for Christmas as well.

With all that going on, you only now realized that you also have a week or two before you get back to class as well! What will you do with all this free time? Below, we have a few suggestions that instruct you on how to spend winter break in style…!

1) Party like a rock star on a tropical beach

That’s right – do the spring break thing a full three months early. While you might not have the crowds and the hedonistic atmosphere that goes along with that time of year, it’s still warm and sunny, and when you’re in a place where the palm trees sway, any night could be occasion for a blowout party.

Cancun is a place where one can rock out with abandon with Senor Frog at any point during your winter break, while the once-monthly Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, Thailand will give you the excuse you’ve been looking for to finally check out the Far East before winter semester begins!

2) Tear up the slopes at a mountain resort near you

Instead of running away from the snow and cold, you may wish to embrace it. If this sounds like you, then there is no better way to do this than to set your course for the nearest mountain range with plans of ripping the slopes there a new one.

Whether you choose run the glades of the Northeast at a resort like Sunday River, or challenge gnarly alpine terrain in Rocky Mountain ski areas such as Jackson Hole, you’ll get the adrenaline rush of a lifetime, along with all the apres ski nightlife you can handle in these popular snow resort towns.

3) Be a tourist in your own hometown – staycation!

Of course, you could just go home and spend your winter break with friends and family – that’s totally cool. However, if you find things becoming a little stale towards the end, don’t despair … just treat your hometown like a tourist destination and watch new possibilities open up.

Being away from the place of your upbringing at college allows you to see it as a place to be visited, rather than as your home. So check out the museums you’ve always ignored, eat at the joints you passed up because you had your favorites, and drink the bars you’ve never seen before (because you know, you weren’t legal back in high school … duh!)

By the time the day rolls around to go back to your new home at college for your second term of the year, you’ll see your former one in an entirely different light.

3 of the best cities in Spain to study abroad

Unbeknownst to most people, Salamanca is one of the best cities in Spain to study abroad!

Unbeknownst to most people, Salamanca is one of the best cities in Spain to study abroad!

 

While taking on student loans may make you hesitant to take to the road on an epic trip with all the bills that you owe to your creditors, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to sacrifice seeing the world until you are 55.

An interesting way to get over this beguiling hurdle is to apply to study in your discipline overseas. Most universities and colleges offer arrangements like this, or you can go to the trouble of arranging it yourself.

One nation that is an excellent place to spend a year or a semester overseas is Spain. Being home to amazing culture and history, mouthwatering tapas, and a language that is one of the most popular mother tongues in the world, this nation is an excellent choice to spend a period of time separate from the life you’ve always known back in America.

The only question that remains is: what city should choose to study in? This guide will you choose the best cities in Spain to study abroad so you can get the best possible experience during your brief period in this amazing country…

1) Barcelona

If being near a fabulous beach, amidst unique architecture, and within a community that speaks a regional language in addition to Spanish appeals to you, then Barcelona will prove to be a good choice. La Sagrada Familia will inspire you with its soaring spires, the strong regional identity of the Catalans will undoubtedly pique your interest in geopolitics, and when the time comes to relax on weekends with your new found friends, the beach will provide a chill spot to relax.

2) Salamanca

The mixed use of Catalan and Spanish will make it hard to focus on the latter if you are you are determined to learn it; if you are in this camp, Salamanca is a much better choice. A lack of English speakers makes it easy to immerse yourself in the local language, and when you are at ease in the community with your improving Spanish proficiency, you will be able to experience local cultural aspects like the generous lunches that are indulged in by the local population, experience the fervor that they employ to cheer on the local football team, and run errands like picking up mobile wif-fi from All Day Internet Spain with ease.

3) Madrid

If Spain’s complex art history has you interested in this storied nation, the best place to experience it is in the capital, Madrid. The Museum Triangle downtown contains some of the finest art museums in the world, and once you’re done getting your culture fix, some of Europe’s most lively nightlife awaits you in this cities’ entertainment district.