With midterm season in full swing, the Wilfrid Laurier University campus has undergone its usual unsettling changes.
Sick and tired students roam the campus hoping for the light at the end of the tunnel as work continues to keep piling up. With all the stress that comes with midterms, it is easy to neglect personal health.
Classrooms filled with choruses of coughing and sickness is beginning to take its toll on sleep-deprived students. The lack of a healthy diet and irregular patterns of sleep and exercise are starting to catch up and benefits no one.
But what can be done to help? Well for starters, it is important to watch what is going into our bodies. The more convenience food and take out someone consumes, the more likely they will feel terrible when their midterm rolls around.
Of course, being students and all, it is hard to avoid that midnight pizza craving. Taking a multivitamin to fulfill all daily nutrient requirements and drinking lots of fluids (not including anything alcoholic unfortunately) are some good ways to combat days of unhealthy eating. Taking in high amounts of sugar and caffeine as a solution to staying awake can have the opposite effect. Eventually, the body will crash as the blood sugar spike comes down and focusing will be harder than it was before.
The key for diet is moderation. Consistent healthy eating allows some wiggle room for cheat days and study snacking here and there as long as its not excessive. In addition to consistent healthy eating habits, maintaining routine sleeping patterns is just as important.
With the influx of work coming in, it may seem like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. While this may be true, sleeping should top the list of important things to do during midterm season.
Staying up all night to study before the big midterm may have adverse effects to performance. Not being able to focus and think clearly come with lack of sleep and can be detrimental during the test. Not to mention that sleeping less leaves the body more susceptible to contracting sickness. Exercising can help fight sleep and diet issues. If a proper exercise regime can be kept during busy times, then the culminating effects of midterm stress will be less likely to catch up with the body.
Any improper meal had the day before can be easily burned off, and if exercise is consistent enough, the body will be tired when it is time to sleep. The endorphin rush from exercising will also increase the student’s mood and it will be much easier to focus on the tasks ahead.
On the bright side of things, it is always good to take a well-deserved break from studying and do something to help de-stress. Hanging out with friends, playing video games or making a healthy meal are great ways to get rid of the midterm blues.
There are many ways to stay healthy and survive midterms but in the end it comes down to each individual’s routine. Following a schedule and managing time effectively by incorporating lots of sleep, healthy eating, exercise and social interaction is the key to making it through midterms safely.
