Tips For Staying Healthy During Exams

As mid-term exams are upon us next week Nurse Lisa and Nurse Keri would like to give you some Tips for Staying Healthy During Exams and wish you luck.

We know that it can be a stressful period that can lead to students focusing entirely on their studies while disregarding their health. Students who have sat for dozens of exams before tend to go a little crazy, get grumpy, and definitely get off the tracks in terms of healthy eating and exercise. For anyone with exams approaching, this is a reminder to take care of yourself.    Here are some that tips can help to fuel the brain and optimize health during the exam period.

  1. Eat Small, Nutritious Meals Frequently

You obviously want to dedicate more time to studying than preparing your meals, and you may even justify your unhealthy eating habits—surviving on fast food - burgers, coffee, pizza, and other unhealthy takeaways—as ‘treats’ for working so hard. However, these items contain very few nutrients and actually slow you down, making it harder for you to focus.

Take quick breaks to have healthy meals and or snacks.

Eat more brain food to stimulate your memory. These foods include whole eggs, berries, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, dark chocolate and fish—especially salmon, which is rich in omega-3s.

    • Eat smaller meals to provide steady energy and avoid the energy dip associated with heavy meals.
    • Avoid high sugar and high fat snacks to maintain steady blood sugar.
    • Stay hydrated by consuming water or coconut water, milky drinks, or teas.

 

  1. Get Enough Sleep and Rest

Many people don’t mind studying till late into the night for a couple of weeks to pass an exam. If you have put your books away and need to catch up  on things, this is probably how you will study. However, getting enough rest is critical for maintaining optimal brain function and doing well.

Pick a reasonable time at which you want to go to bed, and then give yourself at least one hour before bedtime to relax and wind down.   Have a bath, check your social media, watch some YouTube videos, or do anything else other than studying or working to help you unwind. You shouldn’t have any problems falling asleep because your mind will already be exhausted, though doing some exercise during the day will probably help you to fall asleep faster.

  1. Exercise

During the exam period, it is tempting to skip your usual exercise activities in order to maintain your energy and give you more study time. However, scientists argue that exercise is beneficial for brain activity.   A little workout can actually be helpful during exams.

Try to do a few activities each day, like walking, cycling, jogging, climbing stairs, or anything else to promote blood flow and to help your body and mind relax. Exercise can also re-energize you if you’re having a hard time concentrating.

  1. Socializing is Healthy

You’re probably thinking that you’ll have plenty of time to catch up with your family and friends after your exams. Additionally, your peers, who will also be focusing on their exams, will likely be as unsociable as you. So why bother?

If you’re an outdoorsy person, locking yourself up to study for extended periods can prove to be quite a struggle. A quick break from your studies, taking a breath, laughing with friends and going for a quick refreshing walk can be enough to fuel you the next day or two. Joining a group study session is another way to benefit from human interaction while polishing up on studies.

  1. Manage Your Stress

It can be hard to stay calm and relaxed during exam time, but a little stress is not necessarily bad if it forces you to focus. Too much stress, however, can have the opposite effect, making it hard to concentrate and study. The following tips for keeping exam stress under control should help.

    • Start reviewing early and organize your studies, making a study guide. This will give you confidence as the exam approaches that you have done enough work to get a good score.
    • Find a distraction when you feel overwhelmed. When you start feeling tense, you should consider doing something to relax your mind.
    • Don’t compare yourself with your classmates. Discussing how much review each of you has done can cause you to panic if you feel unprepared and inferior. 
    • Take a break, preferably with a buddy, to exercise, socialize, or do something fun that helps you unwind.
    • Manage your review schedule sensibly to avoid unnecessary pressure. On the night before a particular exam, it might be better to relax and polish up on a few areas rather than try to learn a lot of new things.

 

Looking after yourself during study time and exam time by getting proper nutrition, exercising, socializing, and managing stress is very important and will help reduce pressure and make everything a little easier.

Do your best, take a breath and Good Luck, we know you can do it!!!!

Thanks,

Nurse Lisa and Nurse Keri