Staying Healthy During Finals

Photo from Flickr.com by BahrainPersonalTraining

Personally, I find the most difficult time of year to stay healthy that last week before summer break. You’re stressed, hardly sleeping, eating whatever you can at random hours and all around making poor choices for your body– that can be reflected in your grades and in your general health. There are several actions you can take to attempt to remedy the stress of finals.

1. Sleep

Yes, I know, you don’t have time to sleep. But you need to. The constant studying and stress is going to put a strain on your body, and if you completely neglect to give it regeneration time, you’ll just get sick. Obviously, that will make it more difficult to do well on finals. Even if it isn’t a full eight hours sleep, try to do at least six, because that can significantly improve your recovery time.

2. Work out

This is just another thing you don’t have time for, you say, but working out can be one of the biggest helpers during this difficult week. Working out will relieve stress, in addition to increasing your endorphins and metabolism. It will also wake you up, so you don’t feel so tired while studying. Finally, working out will provide you with the break time your brain needs to refuel and remember all the studying you are doing, but if you really are worried about not having enough time, bring materials to study at the gym while doing cardio! Running, biking and using the elliptical are all practical places were you can get your work out on while also working for good grades.

3. Eat healthy

Almost everyone does it: grabbing the quickest and easiest food available at the dining hall during finals week, food that is often comfort food. Put down that cookie and go for a piece of fruit. The fruit will fill you up for longer than a cookie, so while you are studying less focus will be on your stomach’s rumbling than the material in front of you.  In addition, junk and comfort food don’t make you feel good or keep you alert, so you are more likely to not pay attention as much to your studies. Make the healthy choice and grab an apple. Or two.

For my fellow unlucky students who still have yet to face finals, good luck and stay healthy!