In case you were unaware, we are currently in the middle of midterm season, which means everyone, from students to professors are extremely stressed. We would like to remind you all to take care of yourselves. During stressful times, it is very easy to forget about taking care of yourself, however it is very important to not do that.
Don’t let studying or stress let you forget to eat. Getting enough food is extremely important, especially when you are putting a lot of pressure onto your body. Don’t forget to eat all your regular meals and snack while you are studying. According to Healthline, the best foods to eat while you study are berries, dark chocolate, nuts, citrus fruit, eggs, avocados, fish and beets. Although beets and fish are not exactly snack foods, you can definitely grab some berries, nuts and chocolate to snack on!
Sleep. Just don’t forget to sleep. During midterm season it is especially important to get enough rest; you are putting a lot of pressure on your body. If you don’t get enough rest, how are you expecting your body to perform well? If you are struggling to fall asleep, try listening to a podcast to get your mind off of stressful thoughts. White noise also helps, if you cannot sleep with people speaking. Adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night, so try to at least hit that figure. Though oftentimes when you are putting your body under a lot of pressure, especially mentally, you require more than seven hours of sleep. Being well rested for your exams is crucial to doing well on them.
Of course, studying is important, but it is also super important to take study breaks. Research shows that you need to take short, 5 to 15 minute, breaks after every hour of studying that you do. You also need to take a long break, around 30 minutes, for every two to fours of studying that you do. This prevents you from getting too tired while studying, keeping you productive and makes sure that you are studying at an efficient pace. If you notice that you are getting tired, take a short break, even if it’s just to walk around the room you are in.
If you are feeling extremely overwhelmed and feel like you have way too many things to do, communicate with your professors. Most professors understand that this is a very busy time of year, and will be willing to work with you. At the end of the day, everyone wants you to succeed.
Overall, just don’t let the stress get to you. Yes grades are important but so is your health, both mental and physical. There are numerous resources at Brandeis that offer support, such as the Brandeis Counseling Center, the Office of Health and Wellness Promotion (HAWP), the Dean of Students Office, among others. To make an appointment at the Brandeis Counseling Center, call 781-736-3730 to reach the front desk.
