So...finals week is approaching…woot woot. Time for tears, endless hours of studying, and mental breakdowns. You cannot forget about the homework snacks, late nights in the LSB, and all-nighters… WAIT, NO. Adults, those older than us obviously, have somehow tried to nail into our minds that all-nighters are bad, that energy drinks are bad, and that we need to manage our time, blah blah blah. You know what? They are actually more than right, and I am going to tell you why.
Sleep Deprivation
We have all either heard of it or experienced it. It is critically important for you to understand that it is more than just feeling absolutely exhausted. I am not just speaking of all-nighters, but even a couple of hours shy of a healthy night’s rest can demonstrate very similar or even equivalent effects as drunk driving. Over time, being sleep deprived does not just make us drowsy and irritable, but if it progresses, we are prone to weight gain, stroke, and more diseases. So, yes... take a nap for God's sake.
Energy Drinks
Did you know that caffeine is banned in high doses in NCAA regulation? A caffeine overdose/abuse is equivalent to 8 or more cups of coffee. Energy drinks, such as Monster and Red Bull contain EVEN MORE caffeine than is listed on their labels. It is not just that caffeine makes us jittery, but it can cause addiction and withdrawal, high blood pressure, and EVEN CAUSE YOUR HEART TO STOP BEATING. Not to mention, the sugar content is super high and this can cause Type 2 Diabetes in the future.
Adderall
Okay, your friend that has ADD or ADHD really needs this; you do not. Either you probably just lack motivation, or are in a difficult major and do not want to study the mechanism of halogenation in chemistry. With determination to succeed, you can study for a few hours without the help of your friend’s prescription pills. If you do not have the disorder, the drug can have adverse effects on your body. Just have some coffee instead; if anything, it will wake you up even more so than a 40mg pill.
Procrastination
We have all put something off until the last minute possible; I know I have. Whether the assignment was quick and easy or extremely time consuming, we have all at some point waited until the last final opportunity to complete an assignment. But how is this bad if we are getting our still managing to complete our work? Well, not only does it demonstrate poor skills, but it also increases the likelihood of our work being rushed, messy, and not receiving 100% effort. This further demonstrates poor time management and adds more stress to our heads that already feel like they are on the verge of exploding.
Failing to Prepare
If you fail to prepare, you better prepare to fail. Online study guides are your best friend, aside from your IV of coffee that you intend to get you through the week. Even better, make your own study guides! (Writing in blue pen has been proven to help you memorize material better.) Unless you want to bring home a "D-" to mom, make flashcards, highlight the life out of your notes, and read the material out loud. As a peer tutor, this helps the material make sense in your mind, as long as it is unique and creative.
Eating Like Crap
I am not just saying this because I am a maniac about eating well. As a former Exercise Science major and from someone who will likely incorporate nutritional aspects into my senior thesis next year, eating like $H!T will make you eventually feel like $H!T. McDonald’s and late-night pancakes may seem like a good idea at the time, but they will not give you the physical and mental capacity that you need to be super macho (for those who are obsessed with gains) or healthy. Fun fact: calories from processed foods may give you a quick rush of energy, but they will cause you to be tired and even hungrier than you were earlier. Why eat a plain bagel and an orange juice when you can feel satisfied from a balanced meal like toast (still bread folks don’t worry), yogurt, and fruit?
(I know that this is a lot to take in, but seriously, take it into consideration. Go ahead and start to prepare now. Get ready and punch your exams in the face and give them hell. I believe in you, so believe in yourself. You got this!)
