Studying Fit:
Staying Healthy Amidst Finals Fever
Ah, finals season.
A season of burning the midnight oil, as your power through last minute studying and/or assignment work, fuelled by caffeine, snacks and the determination to see things through!
“Sleep is for the weak!” you cry, as you face a mountain of tasks head on, and free time? Ha! You laugh at the thought.
After all, you’ll have all that lovely free time to enjoy AFTER finals are over, as you bask in the glow of completed assignments and exams. But hold on…what’s this?
Everything’s over- you’ve run the gamut from final papers to end-of-semester assignments, and you officially have all the free time in the world to enjoy (until the next semester anyway), but why do you feel so…bleh?
Your head is pounding, your stomach’s a mess, arms are weak, knees are heavy (yeah, you get where we’re going already.) So what gives? Why is it that now, after powering through several weeks of not sleeping, nonstop caffeinating and barely eating, is when your body chooses to throw in the towel?
Well…have you ever considered that you may have seriously overworked your body as you strained through the finals period?
Think about it.
Our bodies are delicate machines- and much like machines, they will eventually show signs of wear and tear as they are used. And when you overwork them, be prepared for signs of wear (or in this case, exhaustion) to show that much faster!
If you’re aiming to stay fighting fit so that you can actually enjoy your free time post-finals, try out some of the following tips!
Get Enough Sleep
Remember the phrase “Sleep is for the week”? Yeah, turns out that’s not true. To remain healthy, you need at least 8 hours of sleep a day- 7 at minimum! In addition to making sure you’re healthy after your exams are over, it’ll also ensure that you are well rested enough to study well and do your best for the paper.
Eat Healthy Meals
While it normal to reach for snacks and sweet stuff (along with plenty of coffee) during exam season it must be acknowledged that this isn’t the healthiest of habits.
All that snacking may fuel you at the moment, but it’s bound to take a toll on your body- especially if this goes one for more than a few days! Nutritional meals and healthy snacks (like fruits and veggies) are a better bet when it comes for maintaining your health, and can really help with boosting your concentration and energy.
Keep A Balanced Schedule
Yes, every moment counts while you’re cramming for finals- but that doesn’t mean that you need to spend every waking moment glued to your study materials.
Schedule enough time for you to study, indulge in your hobbies and to just decompress. It can be as simple as taking 30 minutes for a brisk walk, a quick cat nap, or even just to make a quick cup of tea. Your body and your mental health will thank you.
Exam season is important, but it can be incredibly stressful too. Remember- you owe it to yourself to take care of your health, the better to perform well in your exams, and to ensure that you get to enjoy your free time post-exams. Good luck!
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