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It is an undeniable truth that life in architecture school and professional practice is tough. As both a former student and a practicing architect, I can attest to this personally; vivid memories persist of long studio hours, far too much caffeine and far too little sleep. Don’t even mention the brutal design reviews that came at the end of all that!
In architecture, the relentless pursuit of perfection, the competitive nature of peers and the attention to detail demanded for each and every challenge is understandably draining on both body and mind. If left unchecked, physical and mental fatigue can become overwhelming, particularly during those last few nights before a project deadline.
It is therefore essential that students and professional architects alike take care of themselves. Despite how it often feels, architecture is not a “life and death” occupation; no project is worth sacrificing one’s health for. The added benefit of increased well-being is that if you are feeling good, you are that much more likely to be creative and find the best design solutions for your clients and yourself. Here are just a few things to keep in mind when considering ways to boost your health and productivity in the architecture studio.
Avoid soda and other sugary drinks; via YouTube (Katy Wise)
Diet
1. Drink two glasses of water for every cup of coffee to stay hydrated.
2. Eat breakfast. Even if you’re in a rush to get started on your project, a small but nutritious meal at the beginning of your day will provide you with lasting energy, and you’ll get more done in the long run.
3. If you can, make lunch at home — it could be leftovers from dinner the night before — and bring it with you to the studio. You’ll save money this way and it will also reduce the number of unhealthy takeouts you eat through the week.
4. Buy fruit bowls instead of candy bowls for that late-night snack.
5. Stay away from soda and other sugary drinks — while they taste great, you will experience a “sugar crash” later on. Consider tea if you really need caffeine.
6. Talking from experience — whatever you do, don’t drink energy drinks. You will become addicted and never be able to stop!
Stretch regularly; via Executive Placements
Physical Health
7. Stand up and walk around for at least two hours for every eight hours of sitting. Install an app like Move for iOS or Big Stretch Reminder to help remind you to get up at regular intervals!
8. Pay attention to your posture — if you feel yourself hunching over to stare at your screen, use something to raise your laptop up to prevent back and neck pain. Stretch regularly.
9. Squeeze in mini-workouts. Even if you don’t have any equipment, a few body-weight exercises such as press-ups or sit-ups will keep your muscles and joints from stiffening over time.
10. Try to be as active as you can outside of studio — taking up a weekly exercise or sport that you really enjoy can counter those long days sat at your computer.
11. Prevent eyestrain by maintaining your computer screen roughly at arm’s length from your eyes. If you are struggling to read text from this distance, increase your font size rather than moving closer.
12. Clean your keyboard and mouse regularly — they can harbor thousands of germs just waiting to make you sick.
Second Home Lisboa by selgascano, Lisbon, Portugal. You don’t necessarily need *quite* this many plants, just a couple will do! Read more about this project here.
Environment
13. Keep the windows open as much as possible — breathing in stuffy air hampers brainpower.
14. If it’s too cold or too polluted outside to keep windows open, consider purchasing an air purifier with an HEPA filter for your desk.
15. Add leafy plants (rather than spiky cacti) to your work environment to boost your psychological state and create a feeling of wellness in the studio.
16. Buy an essential oil diffuser for your desk. Aromatherapy can lift the spirits and it has even been suggested it could improve memory.
17. Adjust your lighting. Sit near a natural light source if possible, but if not, try a desk lamp rather than overhead lighting to reduce eyestrain.
Green 26 by Anonym, Bangkok, Thailand. Green walls lead to a calmer, more creative mind, according to studies.
Mental Health
18. Leave your deskto eat — create a separation between work and other daily activities to give yourself a true mental “reset” before getting back to the drawing board (or the laptop).
19. If your school program or studio structure permits, mix in group work with your individual design time. Some social interactions — even when work-related — will benefit your mental well-being in the long run.
20. Add a small number of personal items to your desk — a family photo for example. Making studio feel more like home can provide mental health benefits.
21. Keep an “inspiration board” near your desk to pin great architects’ quotes and images of your favorite buildings as you find them. A little inspiration can do wonders for getting you out of your mental rut.
22. If you have the option, paint your walls green. Studies have shown the color is associated with enhanced creative thinking.
23. Listen to music. Probably not heavy metal or rap, but something that works well as background music can help stimulate your senses and keep you calm as you work.
24. Get enough sleep. It’s not easy in architecture, but a few hours of sleep each night will make you more productive during your waking hours — don’t rely on the dreaded all-nighter to succeed!
25. Work on self-awareness and know your limits. If you feel run down, you probably are. Nothing is more important than your health — not even the project! So sleep, drink water and take a breath before you dive back in.
For more health and wellness tips for architects, check out 18 tricks for getting mentally clear.
Enjoy this article? Check out more of our Young Architect Guides:
The 7 Secrets to Happy Interning
7 Tips for Getting Hired After Graduation
Building Great Architecture Models
5 Lies Told About the Profession You Must Ignore
How to Convince Your Audience With a Powerful Project Narrative
How to Write About Architecture
5 Specifying Tips for First-Time Architects
Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters.
Top image courtesy of m-gucci