staystrong

So, I'm here locked up in my room with some tea and my books and papers and I'm deep in my anatomy stuff haha :) Can't wait - only 8 more days until finals are over and summer is here! So, aside from drowing in all the material I learned this semester, my ankle is still swollen like crazy and now I don't have track to relieve my stress :( But here are some tips I'm trying to follow to stay alive during the crazy seasont that is exam time! Maybe these will help you guys too:

1) Don't study in bed. Get up and get dressed/ready like it's a normal day. Then sit at your desk or in a chair that doesn't recline too much. If you feel too relaxed, your mind will wander and you'll just want to fall asleep.

2) After every 20 min, get up a do some stretches/jumping jacks/running on the spot (except not me with this ankle haha). If you sit hunched over books too long, you'll get really stiff and sore. Short exercises promote blood flow to the brain so you'll think better too.

3) Don't eat too much. Some people have the tendency to snack a lot while they study. This will just make you feel sick though - especially since you're sitting so much.

4) Eat healthy and remember to eat! Some people have the opposite problem and so intense with studying they forget to eat or they just grab a granola bar to last them a whole day. For you brain to work it need nutrients!

5) Stay hydrated! Water helps your brain function better.

6) Open the window/curtains! Sunlight and fresh air will keep you rejuvinated and lower stress.

7) Talk to your best buds every so often for moral support. If you know that they're going through the same stuff, you might not feel as stressed :)Of course, don't talk to your friend who's on the beach in Hawaii. That might not help so much :P

8) Take breaks! If you study nonstop without leaving your room or talking to another human for hours and hours you'll get burned out and probably won't remember half the stuff you read anyway.

9) Study by day, sleep by night. Don't lose sleep and try to remember stuff at 2 in the morning when your brain can't work anyhow. Studying before sleeping helps your brain organize what you learned. And if you study ahead of time, you won't have to cram :)

10) Change it up! Study outside on the lawn, in the library, at the kitchen table, at starbucks, on your front steps... You'll feel refreshed in a new location and you might even link facts with places. Like... oh I was there when I read this so i remember it!

Good luck and stay alive,

laura

p.s. On a happier note, Worlds is in 2 1/2 weeks! :)