To most college students, finals week means getting no sleep, only eating food items containing caffeine and studying, studying, studying.
Unfortunately, these habits often lead to unwanted physical effects.
With fall finals falling during flu season, students would be wise to take care of themselves.
Although this semester’s finals are fast approaching, Julie Hupperich, Student Health Center dietician, insists the most important thing a student can do during these stressful times is to manage their time.
“It is so important to implement a good time management program, to plan ahead. It’s not too late to start pacing yourself,” said Hupperich.
Time is not the only thing students would be wise to manage.
Hupperich advises stress management is important also. To do this, Hupperich suggests breaking up your study time and taking small breaks for yourself, such as taking 20 or 30 minutes for walking or some other aerobic activity.
“I plan on getting lots of sleep and hanging out with friends along with studying, so I don’t get too overworked,” said Casey Jones, business freshman.
Unfortunately, nothing can be achieved during finals if students do not eat properly. Hupperich insists eating healthful snacks and staying away from high fats and refined sugar is vital to staying healthy during finals.
Also important to nutrition is the level of caffeine students ingest. Hupperich advises students stay well-hydrated and limit caffeine, which can have a negative impact on health.
Something else students should consider during finals week to stay healthy is taking vitamins.
“Just taking a multivitamin can help fill in the blanks in your diet and help you stay healthy,” said Hupperich.
Obviously, one of the most important, yet strangely elusive components of staying healthy for finals week is sleeping. Hupperich says that the optimum is eight to ten hours, but during finals week, just getting six to eight hours can benefit health tremendously.
“The sleep you get during finals week needs to be quality sleep though; if you’re hyped on caffeine, that’s not quality sleep,” said Hupperich.
Finally, one of the most simple things students can do during finals week, according to Hupperich, is to keep up good personal hygiene, especially hand washing.
“The key to staying healthy during finals is getting sleep during the whole semester and taking vitamin C,” said Chris Causey, biology sophomore.
For students who think they might need extra help during finals, the Student Wellness Center offers literature that students can read year-round and individual advising, to help students set up a strategy for the stressful week.
For more information on how to stay healthy during finals or about individual advising sessions, visit the Wellness Web site at www.lsu.edu/wellness.