Monthly Archives: April 2018

Sound body and sound mind is the key to success and happiness

The clock is ticking, the pressure is building, not only do you need to work hard but also show results. The competition never gets less, and the stress only doubles as you grow older. So what do you do?
Here are a few tips to beat the anxiety this summer!
1. Talk to people:
The most important thing is to find a support system that helps you grow. They could be your parents, teachers or friends, or anyone else you feel will give you constructive criticism when needed and at other times will give you that pep talk that will motivate you. Teachers in school or classes know you as a person as well as your academic strengths and area of development and so can show you the gaps you need to cover and well as celebrate what you are amazing at. There is no shame in admitting you are not in the best mental state and need help. It is a normal thing that most people go through.
2. Find your stress buster
All work and no play…well you know how that one goes. Your mind requires a break at regular intervals, and not one that leaves you overthinking. The best thing to do is find a form of physical activity that you enjoy to release the stress. Even something as simple as playing some loud music and dancing can help take out any anxiety you face.
3. Listen to your body.
Sound body and sound mind is the key to happy and healthy life. Studying 20 hours a day won’t help you in the long run, but a good 8 hours a night of sleep definitely will. Studies prove that students academic performance is directly related to their routine of eating and sleeping. If you feel tired or mentally exhausted, take the break, whereas if you think you can push yourself, go for it. Nobody knows your body and self better for you. Don’t plan your life according to what anyone else says, just like we all have different personalities, we also have different learning styles. Figure out what you need to succeed.
4. Be practical
At the end of the day, your mental health lies in your hands alone. Obviously external help may make it easier but in the end it’s up to you to strike a balance in your mind. One of the easiest things to do is every time you are stressed think about how this will affect you in 10 years. Are these scores and examinations what define you as a person or what your success will be? They definitely will aid you and make things easier but it is not the end of your world if things don’t go exactly as planned.
However, mental and physical health is thin ice, once the downward spiral begins it’s hard to pull yourself out of it. Success is not measured by the wit of a person, but by the way in which he uses it.
Have a productive summer!

How to smoothly transition from school to college

While making the leap from high school to college, it’s super important to make sure that you land safely. It’s not just hop skip and jump, since college is a whole other ball game altogether. That being said, you don’t need to get nervous or jittery about taking the next natural step in progression, but rather embrace it with excitement. You know what they say, ‘Your college days will stay with you forever’. That being said, here are a few things that you should keep in mind when you’re starting your college life and that could be of help to you in this transition period –

  1. Master the art of Time Management – You can transition into college effortlessly just by optimally utilizing your time. A lot of students love the freedom, the hostel life so much that they end up wasting half the day in bed and get stuck in the vicious circle of trying to match the attendance towards the end of the semester, clueless of what’s been taught. Attend your lectures, participate in extracurricular activities and make time to blow off steam with your friends too. It’s all about the right balance.
  1. Don’t be afraid to fail – This doesn’t just limit to your grades or academics, and no we don’t mean that you don’t need to study. What this means is that you shouldn’t be afraid to try out new things. Hobbies, sports, subjects, try out whatever attracts your interest. You’re still finding your feet and you’ll never know what your forte is or could be if you don’t try. Take that risk, you never know what you might learn. 
  1. Find a Mentor – There’s nothing that smoothens the process of settling into college like having an experienced mentor to fall back on. Find a professor or teacher that’s passionate about the same subject as you, or a senior that you can relate or connect with and don’t be afraid to talk to them about your experiences and ask them for advice.
  1. BE SOCIAL – This cannot be emphasised enough! You can’t be in your shell and keep to yourself when you join college, it’s the easiest to make friends in the start. You don’t want to be struggling to enter groups that have already been formed later on and not know what’s up. Learn with each other and grow together, talk to your peers and find a group of individuals that you’re most comfortable talking to. Talk to everyone and maintain friendly relations with everyone. Help whoever you can, it comes back to you!

Stay in touch with your family and friends back home, share your day with everyone, and see how easy it gets to enter the world of college 🙂

How to best support your kids while prepping for exams!

The two years of tenth and twelfth are quite crucial in a students life, and in a parents life as well. They can be easygoing and smooth, or stressful and difficult for everyone depending on how it is handled. Then comes the time to sit for the entrance exams. These can really stress the children out! But don’t stress, there is a way to avoid it. Plan ahead for this time of your life, and make things better for both yourself and your child! Below are some tips to ensure a productive and happy year ahead-
1. Understand your child’s way of working.
Every child is different, and works in a different way. She/He will only be able to maximise her/his potential if they use the method that works out the best for them. Some people work well in the morning, others at night. For some reading it aloud helps, while others prefer to make notes. Sit with your child and see what learning style works out the best for him/her. Be attentive.
2. Set realistic goals.
When making a schedule or a plan, set a goal that is achievable. Even if it is a slower pace, it is important to allow a child to succeed at sticking to a schedule rather than rushing through it. This will also boost the child’s morale, and encourage him/her to study further. Nobody knows the child better than himself/herself. Allow them to create a schedule, set goals, and then reflect on what went wrong, where exactly there was a breakdown of understanding, so that they can re-do that specific topic. The goals could be aligned to the school/college schedule, but should not be bound to them.
3. Work smart, not hard.
The quality of the work done is more important the quantity even in an exam. The schedule should not be too tightly packed where the child is physically sitting and studying, but the mental intake is zero. Working 5 hours a day with full concentration and energy is more productive than working 20 hours with little energy or concentration. Allow your child to take breaks, go out and enjoy too. When the mind is not stressed is the only time it can take in information. Working throughout the year, in this manner is smarter than cramming right before the exam. The pressure on the child is also lessened in this way.
4. Support your child in the best way.
This time is scary and puts a lot of pressure on your child. Support your child in the best way and in the way required to your child. If you are putting your child in a tuition or coaching class, talk to the teacher before hand and make sure it is a healthy learning environment. Ensure you make it clear with your child that there is no competition with others in the class. Keep encouraging your child and try to find innovative solutions to the problems they face academically. Most importantly, touch base and talk to your child on  a regular basis.
5. Think about 5 years later.
As important as marks are in a child’s life, to open doors to better opportunities, it is not the end goal. Both the mental heath of you and your child is more important. Focus on developing and identifying skills that will help your child get opportunities. If you are stressed out, the child can sense it and it affects them as well. Every time you feel stressed or your child feels stressed, remind yourself or them, that these scores do not define them or you. There is much more to life. Aim at overall development.

How we stay connected with our students

At Vidya Mandir, we don’t just want to focus on coaching the children that seek our help in education.  ‘Help’ here at Vidya Mandir is not merely academic assistance but a lot more than that. We prefer to pick on the roles of counsellors and mentors that don’t just help them improve their academic performances, but also help them become better human beings and understand the small nuances that help an individual make it or break it in life.

Let’s break down the process simply. In most other coaching classes, there are just lectures or classes with a couple of calls for coordination or clearing of doubts. At Vidya Mandir, we follow a different culture altogether. We have the basic classes and lectures where we encourage student to student, and student to teacher interaction. We also incorporate emails and phone calls in our communication to share feedback, have one on one sessions with students that need extra attention, have dedicated social media platforms and blogs to address common doubts and issues and share valuable tips, and most importantly – Share a personal connect outside the classroom.

The teachers at Vidya Mandir take extra initiatives to talk to the student’s about life beyond studies, and are there to guide them in matters both academic and personal. They form a personal bond with the students by winning their trust so that they can come to them whenever something is bothering them and can help them tackle problems and guide them to the right path in life, shaping their character as time goes by.

In the early stages of life, a student has numerous dilemmas and obstacles that society expects you to tackle by yourself or with the support of your family, not realising that it is this age when children can’t be completely open to their parents, be it matters of studies or personal issues like bad habits, company, etc. We understand that, and aim to extend a helping hand to guide them onto the right path so that they go on to become individuals of substance that are not only learned, but well educated too and share a set of values.

HOW TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE VACATION

It’s nearly holiday time, and even though we’re in the middle of our exams, we can’t help but think about the summer vacations. When it comes to vacations you
don’t need a lesson or advice on how to have fun, but all play and no work isn’t the smartest way
forward in the bigger picture, don’t you think? After all life is all about striking the perfect balance!
So when you’re going to have a month or more of merriment, why not add a little productive
element to it as well? No, that does not mean you grill yourself with text books, or even necessarily
touch upon them unless you’re in the ninth or eleventh grades and have board preparations to
commence. Take it easy, have fun while learning, and we guarantee that you will have a superb vacation!
1 – Read a book – Whether you’re a kid or an adult, there’s nothing quite as productive as reading a
book. You can pick from several different genres and pick a book that expands your horizons and
teaches you something new or simply adds perspective. Reading books introduces you to a new world, and you’ll be amazed at how it gets you to be curious and excited about  what life has to offer in the form of travel, food, culture, history, religion, or even life lessons for that matter. A book can be your best friend.
2 – Pick a Hobby – We’ve heard this a million times, but hardly any of the kids act on it. Pick a hobby
at the start of your vacations and master it as time goes by! This can be anything, right from playing
football or basketball or any sport, to learning the guitar, or even collecting coins and stamps. Again, this
adds to your skill-set and molds you better as a human being. How? Sports teach you life lessons
probably no book ever can, and music and other hobbies also teach you various things such as the
importance of consistency or the need for patience in life. Yes, it’s true, life lessons can be found in the simplest of things.
3 – Start Prepping for next year – Once the syllabus and books for the next year or the remaining
term are out, spending around 1-1.5 hours of your day just flipping through and generally reading
the next few chapters will make life a lot easier for you in the assignments and tests to follow. You
essentially end up doing the same work over a period of time, but just under a lot less stress than
you would if you had to last minute learn everything and were looking at it for the first time! Instead, take out those books during the vacation, see what’s in store for the year, and prepare yourself mentally to face the new year.
4 – Learn a new language – Remember that one language you found so fascinating? It’s time to learn
it! What better way to make use of your free time than add to your language arsenal! Spanish,
German, French – take your pick! A new language will also be beneficial to your professional career.
5 – Volunteer – If you have a lot of free time on hand then an ideal way to spend a small chunk of it
would be to volunteer with an NGO in your favourite area of interest. Could be with old people, or
pets, or a rescue center, holds a lot of weight on your C.V. later on as well as you look to push for
further studies.
Sounds like a plan? So tell us, what are you going to opt for this summer?