Lexus Lukehart

General Psychology
09/19/23

1. The four lifestyle factors

a. Sleep- lack of sleep causes a decrease in focus, which will also cause higher
stress, less exercise, and less likely to eat better
b. Stress management- using various techniques such as meditation, self-care,
and unwinding time have been proven to have a longer attention span and
improved focus
c. Exercise- exercise in all forms (physical and mental) causes blood to flow to
the brain more smoothly. This feeds your neurons more oxygen and nutrients,
which will lead to better memory and mentality
d. Nutrition- an intake of large portions of unhealthy foods (foods high in
cholesterol, fats, and sugar) has been known to increase stress levels and
memory loss in most people
2. The hypothalamus is the brain structure responsible for triggering stress responses
a. Stress response pathway #1: Hypothalamus to the sympathetic system to the
adrenal medulla which results in a release of catecholamine
b. Stress response pathway #2: Hypothalamus to the pituitary gland into the
bloodstream then to the adrenal cortex which results in a release of the
steroid hormone
3. The coping strategy I’ve used before to help with my studying is learning how to
balance my school, work, and personal life. I could use the organizational method in
the future. I tend to procrastinate a lot but using the technique of “chunking” I could
definitely be less stressed when it comes to turning in assignments.
4. In the TED Talk video, Kelly McGonigal describes the prime stress factor that leads to
health problems: looking at stress negatively. What I mean by this is if you view your
stress responses in a helpful way, it will lead you to a better performance.
5. Each item that is listed will not help with learning for many reasons. First, small
amounts of sleep can greatly impair attention span, comprehension, and memory.
Secondly, only relying on a small cramming session before a big test is known to be
 ineffective. It does not allow for the correct recall of information, leading to doing
poorly on exams. Third, only reading the chapters/notes and not doing a deep dive
into the subjects is not a great learning strategy. Engaging into the material such as
using flashcards or creating games will be more beneficial in the long run. Lastly,
checking your phone frequently to look at social media or texts is a huge distraction
from the learning process. It diverts attention away from studying making it even
more difficult to understand the material.

Cite Sources

YouTube. (2013, September 4). How to make stress your friend | kelly mcgonigal.
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcGyVTAoXEU

Soltysiak, M. A, (2011, December) PSY 1100 OER Study Skills [PowerPoint Presentation]