As the chaos of finals week draws near, some University students are trading their Facebooks for textbooks in an effort to maximize studying and minimize distractions.
Kinesiology junior Amy Beecher is abandoning Facebook for the third semester in a row.
“I can tell I do better on tests and I’m more productive [without Facebook],” Beecher said.
Beecher has managed to avoid the distraction of social media in the past by essentially deeding her account to her best friend during finals.
“I’ll tell her my password and she’ll log on and change my password,” Beecher said. “It works better than deactivating my account because this way it’s impossible for me to get me.”
Kathy Saichuk, health promotions coordinator for the Student Health Center, said Facebook and other social media networks are similar to an addiction. To increase focus while studying, Saichuk suggested students study in 45-minute segments with 10-minute breaks in between.
“It’s good to take breaks because they help you to re-focus, but don’t get on your phone or Facebook or else you may take a longer break than initially intended,” Saichuk said.
Saichuk also advised against procrastination. She said a small amount of procrastination is normal and healthy, but too much will cause study-impairing stress.
Additionally, Saichuk cautioned students to watch their diet, an aspect of student health that often falls by the wayside in favor of late-night snacks and excessive caffeine consumption.
“Stay away from refined sugars like cookies and remember that caffeine stays in a person’s system for longer than most realize,” Saichuk said.
Saichuk said it is important for students to monitor what they put in their bodies and not to deviate from their normal routines.
“If you aren’t prescribed drugs like Adderall, don’t use them to help study,” Saichuk said. “They have side effects ranging from increased heart rate and blood pressure to loss of appetite and increased stress.”
 
____
Contact Josh Naquin at [email protected].