Personal Responsibility: A Proactive Approach The actions a person takes, the choices he or she makes, and the results that arise from these actions define one’s level of personal responsibility. The results, whether positive or negative, are theirs to own. The decisions one makes and the path he or she takes dictate these results. The accountability for these results will determine their level of personal responsibility. Morison Thompson states, the term “personal responsibility” is diagnostic (e.g., “one should have exercised more personal responsibility in one’s sleeping habits”) and prognostic (e.g., “what we need is more personal responsibility and less blaming others”) (2009, p. 6). The decision for prior planning supports positive results. A person’s actions directly affect the outcome in any situation. Their personal responsibility allows them to take ownership of these decisions. Ultimately, one’s actions can lead to their success in school or even their failure. Studying, for example, is an action that will lead to his or her success. Learning the proper studying techniques will allow the act of studying to become a main factor in obtaining a degree. Sleep patterns will influence one’s study habits. Studies have shown that a person’s sleep patterns can affect the learning process. According to Gilbert and Weaver (2010), “sleep is critical for memory consolidation, learning, decision making, and critical thinking” (p. 296). Sleep, therefore, is necessary for academic success. When students enter college, changes in their sleep pattern occur to accommodate a changing lifestyle. Phase delays are a pattern of shortened nights of sleep during the week to longer nights of sleep on the weekend. These irregular sleep patterns can develop into delayed sleep phase syndrome (Gilbert & Weaver, 2010, p. 296). A consistent pattern of sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality can negatively affect academic performance and lead to depression. Poor sleep quality and quantity can be similar to the symptoms of depression, such as fatigue, lack of motivation, and irritability (Gilbert & Weaver, 2010, p. 298). To avoid these symptoms one should get eight hours of quality sleep every night of the week and exercise. Exercise will contribute to academic success. Regular exercise will not only benefit the body but also benefits the mind. To improve brain function and cognition one can exercise. The studies have shown through neuroimaging techniques that exercise has an impact on brain structure and function (Hillman, Erickson, & Kramer, 2008, p. 58). Exercise not only helps brain function in college students but also in children and the elderly. With exercise, a significant area of improvement in brain function occurs in the executive control processes. This includes scheduling, planning, working memory, multi-tasking, and dealing with ambiguity (Hillman, Erickson, and & Kramer, 2008, p. 60). These processes are keys to success in college. The personal responsibility to exercise regularly will also give oneself increased levels of energy. With regular exercise, the body will have more energy. More energy allows a student to be more alert while studying; more studying will lead to success. Regular exercise helps clear the mind and aids the relief stress. A clear mind provides more room for concentration while studying. Concentration on one’s schoolwork lets them absorb more of the material that is another key point to achieving success in school. Therefore, exercise will lead to increased success in school. The choice he or she makes in his or her daily life directly influences one’s level of personal responsibility. Making beneficial choices will lead to one’s success. Procrastination is a choice that will not lead to success. He or she will get behind on his or her work by not using time wisely. To avoid procrastination one should try to become self-motivated. Many self-motivation techniques can