.....especially those headed into finals this week or next. Here are a few tips and reminders for getting through the last bit of the semester. You all are beautiful cupcakes and will make it through!
1. Get Enough Rest. seriously. Don't go pulling all-nighters every other day just because you need to study or write a paper. Plan accordingly and get sleep. You'll feel better, do better on those tests, and be a healthier person. Get earplugs if you have to (I did). But seriously, get sleep.
2. Take Study Breaks. Research shows that after an hour (or was it 2?) mental productivity starts to decline. (I think anyway, don't quote me on this, i read it somewhere a while ago). Either way, taking study breaks helps you feel better and study more productively. Turn up the music and dance for a little while. Play games with your friends. Just remember to come back to the books eventually :)
3. Wash Your Sheets. Seriously. It will help you sleep better. Our mom's weren't kidding when they told us it was a good idea. Don't put it off until the end of the semester. You need it now. Sleeping in clean sheets feels wonderful anyway. So do it. It's not that hard.
4. Drink Enough Water. No, coffee doesn't cut it. You can drink coffee too, but make sure you drink enough straight up water. Hydration is key for life, not to mention stressed out times such as these. Carry a water bottle and fill it up when needed. Again, not that hard, but if you are hydrated, you will feel better and focus better. Yeah, you might need to use the bathroom more often, but so what? You might get better grades. That's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. At the very least, drink tea instead of coffee, occasionally. Which brings me to my next point.
5. Drink Tea Instead of Coffee Occasionally. You all know I love tea. (well, you should if you don't.) I love coffee too, but tea is just wonderful. It better hydrates you, can reduce stress, has antioxidants, and is easy to make. if you want a full 10 reasons why tea is "better" than coffee, look over here.
6. Fuel Your Body. Don't forget to eat, and more importantly, don't forget to eat healthy. (Or at least as healthy as you can if you must subject yourself to dining hall food, as I still must.) Get enough protein and vitamins and carbohydrates. Don't just eat candy. Invest in some oranges or fruits to snack on. But don't forget to treat yourself, too. M&M's are excellent study motivators. So are goldfish and skittles. Coffee is a yummy way to start the day, or the beginning of a study session. (Just remember: if you study on coffee, take the test on coffee too. If you learned it on caffeine, you will remember it better with caffeine.)
7. Be Considerate of Others. You may want to stay up until 2 am blasting music and dancing in your room, but other people might not. Especially if you live in the dorms, know when to turn it off (or at least down). People study better at different times of day, know that you will not always feel most productive when your neighbors are, and plan accordingly. Let those of us who like sleeping at normal times of night get our rest, and let those who sleep in until noon rest. If you don't appreciate loud music at 2 am, they don't appreciate it at 7 am (probably). Be nice.
8. Know When You Are Most Productive. Like i said, people are productive at different times of day. If you find that you work better at 8 am, get up and study then. If you know you don't study well unless it's late at night, plan to study then. However, still be considerate of your roommate and neighbors! :)
9. Find Some Good Study Music. Music is good for motivating you to study and write papers. (Or at least, it's good for me. If you know it's not for you, skip this point.) Find something you know will keep you on track. (Classical is good.) Something upbeat, but not too much. You don't want to get distracted, but rather have background noise.
10. and finally.... Stop Writing this Blogpost and Go Study for Your Test Tomorrow. Ok, obviously this is more for me than you. but if you have a test tomorrow too (or a paper due, or whatever) you should probably stop reading and get back to your responsibilities, or got to bed because it's getting late. Whatever.
Adios, and I hope you all do well on your finals! I believe in you!
