Stressed out about finals?
- Eat without distractions (no phones, computers, television, books) so that you can take a break, focus, appreciate, and of course, taste your food.
- Breathe deeply – right now, and throughout the day.
- Fit physical activity into your day. Break up your time studying with stretching exercises or walks.
- Opt for whole-grain carbohydrates such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat breads, for a boost of the “feel good” hormone serotonin, along with fiber and nutrients.
- Up your intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to counteract the immune-weakening effects of chronic stress.
- Get more citrus from fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes – these are rich in vitamin C, which helps to reduce stress hormone levels.
- Stay clear of foods high in saturated and total fat, as these can make you feel lethargic. Higher-fat meats, creamy sauces, and heavy dishes with a lot of oil or fried foods can compound the stress of finals by slowing you down, rather than energizing you.
- Drink caffeinated beverages in moderation, or only early in the day, to prevent the possibility of sleeping problems and jitters.
Coffee is fuel for finals, right?
- Coffee has been shown to increased cognitive function and be one of the leading sources of antioxidants in the average American diet.
- Beware of specialty coffee shop concoctions, typically with lots of added sugar and fat – best bet is to stick with the fat-free lattes, soy-lattes, plain coffee with non-fat milk or soy milk, or basic black coffee.
- Want a boost of flavor (and even more antioxidants) add cinnamon or vanilla powder to your coffee.
- Too much of a good thing can be bad though – irritability, anxiety, rapid heart rate and sleep problems can stem from too much caffeine
- The vicious caffeine-sleep cycle – too much coffee, can’t sleep at night, wake up needing more coffee to function, leading to an even more sleepless night, leading to even more coffee to function, and it goes on and on.
- General recommendations are to keep the coffee to about 24 fl oz a day – remember to think earlier in the day, so you can get your much needed sleep at night.