Ah, it’s that dreadful
time of the semester again: finals week.
The week where it’s completely acceptable to dress in your worst comfiest
clothes, sleep in the libraries and continuously order Jimmy John’s directly to
your study area. Sure, it can be fun to grab vending machine goodies and pull
all-nighters with friends, but beware: each of these actions is likely to leave
you feeling sluggish, and maybe even sick, once the week is over. With that
being said, there are a few habits I maintain during finals that keep me
feeling focused for my tests and healthy in time for summer break. Curious?
Let’s take a look.
Snack. Pack a snack — or three — to bring with
you during your long study sessions. Not only will having prepared food keep
you fully aware of what you’re putting into your body, but it’ll also save you
some extra cash. Choose snacks from all food groups, including a little
chocolate action (because you deserve it). Think whole grain crackers and
cheese slices, celery and peanut butter, or an almond-craisin-dark chocolate
chip mix.
Snooze. I know, I know, you think you can catch
up on sleep when finals are over. In reality, sleep is more important than ever
this week. Research shows that taking time to catch a snooze
will actually help your test grade more than staying up an extra five hours. To
get those recommended eight hours while staying on top of your testing A-game, try the following: prioritize time spent study, rather
than scrolling through social platforms, start your studying a day earlier
(rather than later) and say no to caffeine come evening, as well as any other
form of stimulant.
Exercise. Keeping a workout regimen is extremely
important during finals week. With so many studies pointing to heightened brain activity after hitting the gym,
there’s no reason to break a sweat over worrying about your tests. Grab a
friend and head out for a run around town, take advantage of downtime and take a
walk in the park or even squeeze in a quick, at-home workout. Really, 30
minutes a day is all you need.
Hydrate. The theme is water, water, water. Being an avid
coffee-consumer myself, this point can be a hard one to remember nearing the
end of the semester. Dehydration can weaken your concentration, exhaust
your body and even affect your skills or mood — all necessary items to crush
your exams. Fill up on water as much as possible this week. Carry a water
bottle with you and refill it frequently. If the taste of water (or lack
thereof) does nothing for you, consider adding different fruits to your bottle,
like strawberries or limes, for a little flavor.
Relax. Lastly, take a deep breath and relax.
You can 100 percent do this. Give yourself plenty of study breaks to get up and
walk around the building or frolic outside. I try to follow the 1:15 rule —
focused studying for an hour, then a 15 minute chill time. Scheduling a few
breaks into your routine will keep you feeling rejuvenated and understanding
the material, rather than strictly staring at a textbook.
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