Term finals are coming

The two worst words in the English language, are you ready?

STEVE BOHRN STAFF

For many students. as the end of November rolls around, it may seem like the world is collapsing in on them. Life is downright hectic for most of us this time of year. Term finals are approaching, the holiday season is just around the bend, and yet another term of school looms in the background. Needless to say, stress levels can quickly become overwhelming.

During this crucial time period, it’s easy to forget some things. One of the first things that most students forget about is their health. Lack of sleep and poor eating habits are common byproducts of wanting to push ourselves that last little bit in order to earn that extra half letter-grade.

Everyone who has been through the wonderful experience of final exams knows how it goes. Late nights, desk lamp on, TV faintly heard in the background, and books cracked open, trying desperately to remember that stupid formula, or which author was the one responsible for that notion.

These nights can go on until the wee hours of the morning, and the lack of sleep is harmful on all of your body’s systems.

But perhaps even worse is the junk that we so often tend to pump into our bodies to keep us going through the night. The “energy drinks,” as they are now called, those concoctions made almost entirely of sugar and caffeine, the chips and snacks and the occasional fast-food grease-burger.

But what can you do instead? Well, there is no clear-cut solution, but here are a few pointers that can help get you through this rough patch happier and healthier.

1. Make a study schedule, and allow time for sleep and eating and, perhaps most importantly, relaxing. Plan your days so that you can get as much studying time in as you need without putting yourself at risk. Many experts will say that 7-8 hours is the required amount of sleep for an adult.

2. Try to get at least this much the day before your exam and no less than five and a half or six hours on any other night. Without this much sleep your brain will start to shut down and you will not function well enough to actually make your study-time productive.

3. Make time to eat properly and try to plan meals that will include a balance of the nutrition that you need. Avoid snacking on junk food while studying as it will lessen your appetite for nutritious food. One way to do this is to have water with you at all times and to consume water when you get the urge to snack.

4. And finally, don’t neglect exercise. Staying active will help to keep your body and mind alert. It doesn’t have to be a two-hour power workout, either. Some things like going for a walk or taking the stairs can take your mind off of the monotony of studying and rejuvenate you.

Remember that these are only suggestions, and that you should above all use common sense. If it feels like what you are doing is not healthy, then it most likely isn’t. And no amount of planning ever makes finals easy or fun. It is something that you just have to survive as best you can.

With that I would like to take this chance to wish you good luck and good health in the upcoming torture . . . er, exam period.