Finals are a short week away, and as you’re preparing your notes and organizing a study guide (or trying to forget about all your finals by watching Netflix), keep these five easy tips and tricks in mind so you can stay energized and healthy (amd get your best grades of the semester!)
1. Water, Water, Water! (and Lemon)
The good ol’ H2O has some of the best health benefits that stressed out college kids need. Get a reusable water bottle like the awesome Camelbak Bottles or the S’well Bottles and aim to drink at a bottle every hour (or two) and you will be hydrated and water helps boost your metabolism. Add lemons to your water for an extra boost for your immune system. Drinking lemon water also helps curb your appetite and can help keep you awake! So next time you’re spending hours in the library and craving Captain Cookie and a Red Bull, try drinking water first.
2. Energy Bites
Below are three links to easy, no bake, delicious, energy bites (that I have made and are highly approved!) Make them one night after classes when you’re procrastinating doing that Geology reading, put them in the fridge, and pop them in your bag the next day when you’re on the go or eat them for breakfast. Eat a couple of these instead of snacking on chips and crackers and feel more energized. The links below are for delicious peanut butter & banana bites, oatmeal raisin bites, and simple oat, peanut butter, honey and M&M bites!
http://dinnersdishesanddesserts.com/no-bake-energy-bites/
http://www.thecookierookie.com/peanut-butter-banana-no-bake-energy-bites/
http://www.getcreativejuice.com/2014/11/oatmeal-raisin-energy-bites-no-bake-healthy.html
3. Exercise
It may be hard to find time for exercise in these last few weeks of the semester, but trust me, even 30 minutes will release all the pent up endorphins in your body. Make time between classes or in the morning for a short spin on the bike, walk around the city to see the lights, or tune into fitness YouTube channel and do a short workout in your room (my favorite are the girls from Tone It Up, link below.) No matter how tired you may seem, a short jog or workout could leave you feeling more energized and ready to study than an afternoon nap.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ToneItUpcom
4. Study In Chunks
Pulling all-nighters may seem like good ideas to study and retain the most information right before a test, but actually, they are never a good idea! All-nighters can leave you tired and groggy the next day, leading to forgetfulness during tests. Instead, study in chunks, change the location you are studying in every so often, and SLEEP! Getting at least seven hours of sleep before the big exam and studying right before you go to sleep instead of watching a TV show or scrolling through Instagram and Twitter can leave your brain and body rested for the next day.
5. Don’t Over-Caffeinate
I get it, sometimes we all need to run to Gelbucks at some point in the week for a little pick me up, but, too much caffeine while studying for finals can make you even more anxious, nervous and stressed out. Instead, combine the above 4 tips in your daily life and you won’t need all that caffeine, trust me!
Stay Energized, Stay Healthy, Stay Studying!