Hi all, Lord of Coffees back again. We all have endless numbers of study guides for classes, best ways to optimize how we study, how we can get the best amount of learning done in a limited amount of time, and so forth. But in all that, we usually don’t get enough advice on how to take care of OURSELVES during that time.  It’s arguably even more important to take care of our bodies (yes, even as college students) even when we are stressed, because without good health, studying and learning becomes much harder.

So how do we take care of ourselves? We can start with the very basics:

• Get at least 6 hours of sleep every night. I know I’m guilty of this as well,  especially in the midst of exam season, but it’s important to get at least some sleep every night, since without sleep, your cognitive function is severely impaired, which makes studying much less efficient than it could be.
• Eat a balanced meal: yeah, it’s tempting to gorge on Cheetos and ice cream when the midterm is the next day, but it’s still not a good idea: imbalanced levels of carbohydrates and sugars can negatively affect not only how you retain information, but also how you feel (even in the short term), and of course, long term health.
• Talk to someone! I don’t mean party excessively, but everyone needs some semblance of social interaction every now and then (this applies to EVERYONE, even if you’re an introvert like me). It’s ok to take a study break every now and then, even if only to recharge your mental batteries. Meeting up with friends, going to church, going on a date: no matter what it is, just talking to someone for a while helps retain alertness and mental cognitive function.

That’s all for now! Remember now, especially in the midst of midterm season, it’s not academically irresponsible to take time out for yourself; if anything, you’re doing yourself a favor!