Well, folks, it’s that time of year again. Every week is hell week. Motivation is low and procrastination is high. So, here are some tips if you feel yourself starting to get burnt out and need some inspiration to keep pushing through the semester.
Even though it may be tempting to stay up late to study for that midterm you’ve been stressing about, sleep is arguably more important than late-night last-minute cramming. Studies show that sleeping locks knowledge into your brain and moves things you learned during the day from short-term to long-term memory, so you’re more likely to remember what you studied! You’re also more likely to be more productive if you start fresh in the morning with a solid seven to eight hours of shut-eye behind you.
Whether you make your own food or survive on Jennings, it’s important to fuel your body and mind with the proper nutrients required to be healthy and successful. Foods such as nuts and fish have been shown to improve brain function, and complex carbohydrates can boost energy and concentration.
It’s also important to get some exercise. The Fitness Centre is newly renovated and now is as good a time as ever to start hitting the gym! If the gym isn’t your thing, check out the group fitness class schedule or pack your goggles and swim some laps at the pool! A good rule of thumb is to get your heart rate up for about 30 minutes every day.
Make sure you plan ahead and lay out your upcoming schedule to study for midterms or complete assignments that are coming up in the next while. You can create a schedule for yourself with these dates along with other commitments like intramurals, society meetings or study groups to work around. Creating a study schedule around your other commitments is a great way to make sure you’re staying on track with your academics.
And last but not least, make sure you’re taking study breaks and treating yourself! Sitting still while studying or working is only reasonable for short periods of time. Giving your brain the break it needs by stepping away for 10 to 15 minutes every couple of hours can help you be more productive than if you study for many hours without a break. Studying is hard work, so once you’re past the worst of your busy week, take some time to reward yourself – you deserve it!
If you find the stress of midterms and school, in general, to be wearing on your mental health, feel free to drop by the Wellness Centre during counsellor walk-in hours Monday and Tuesday 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Thursday 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. If you have any other questions about resources available for students feel free to email me at [email protected] or book your appointment by emailing [email protected]. Have a healthy week!
