Crunch Time

Hi Loves,

      I am about to enter absolute academic hell (I am sure you are too). I wanted to know what you to do stay focused and carry on through this time. I have a few strategies of my own, but am always looking for suggestions!



Here are some things that help me keep calm and carry on.

1. Routine

    When my life is turning up-side down, I like to know what I am doing and where I should be at all times. My planner and phone become my lifeline more than ever. However, I think routine is really about the commitments I make to myself every week.
         For example, I do laundry on Sundays. I find that doing my laundry forces me to be productive because I can't lay in my bed when all my bedding is in the washer. I also clean my room and shower while I am waiting for the dryer cycle to end.
Studies show that your environment is a reflection of your life and effects your mood. When I am living in clutter, I FEEL like clutter. A well organized room promotes an organized and focused life. Also, a cleaner environment reduces your chances of getting sick, which is really important when your immune system is weakened by stress! Read more about how clutter causes stress from Psychology Today here.

2. Eating the right way

    Nutrition during stressful periods is extremely important, and while we are tempted to eat junk and chocolate...that is actually a pretty bad idea. There are other foods we should be paying attention to. For example, fruit is severely under-appreciated, and I am not just saying that because I'm a vegetarian. Here are some things about food you might not know.

• Natural sugar can help with your concentration(just don't over-do it!). Fresh fruit is a wonderful way to get good sugars. Eating an apple is a great start!
• EAT BREAKFAST. Breakfast kick starts your metabolism and having protein early in the morning can assist with your  attention and short-term memory. I eat breakfast everyday before classes and can attest to the fact that my performance has greatly increased since I started the tradition. However, avoid a high-calorie fatty breakfast (sorry Taco Bell) because they can actually worsen your concentration. Read what Johns Hopkins has to say about the importance of eating breakfast for students here.
• Foods with omega 3 fatty acids can help improve memory and preserve its integrity. Try eating some lean fish, like salmon!
• Dark chocolate has moderate doses of caffeine! So feel free to indulge (lightly).
• DRINK WATER. Water helps regulate your internal systems, like temperature, and gets rid of waste. It also helps keep your skin clear (take that, acne!). Water also helps to keep you feeling full and to lower your chances of over-eating.
• Stress lowers the immune system, combat this by eating nuts. Nuts have zinc and vitamins to help your defense stay strong.

3. SLEEP

     Yeah, you have heard that sleeping is important. I know I am preaching to the choir. I am going to proceed anyway because sleep is that important to me.

Why you should sleep:

• It improves your memory. Studies show that studying something right before bed can help improve retention of that subject.
• Sleep boosts creativity. While you are sleeping, your brain takes the time to elaborate and categorize ideas. This may come in handy for your next project or paper!
• It reduces fatigue and increases stamina. Getting some sleep may help you to push through those long days of classes (without falling asleep in the class itself). 
• The numbers speak for themselves. Statistically, students who get more sleep simply get better grades!
• Lowers stress and depression levels. During crunch time, when stress is high, it is easy to become depressed. Protect yourself by getting some sleep.
• Read more about sleep from the Huffington Post here!

The challenge: Falling Asleep

    Trying to sleep is hard when peers are being loud and you are anxious about work. Here are some ideas about how to catch the zzz's:

• Sleep in total darkness. Even a little light can make it more difficult to sleep thoroughly, especially blue light. Try a sleep mask if you have difficulty removing all sources of light from your room.
• Hide your alarm clock. Time checks instill worry, making it difficult to go back to sleep. The clock also emits light. Trust that your alarm will go off when it should and do not worry about the time otherwise.
• Use your bed only for sleeping (and romance). Using your phone or doing homework in bed makes it difficult for your body to associate bed with sleeping. Help train your body by reserving the bed for what it was intended!
• Let the sunlight in. Sunlight is the best way to help your body establish a regular clock and to wake you up more effectively. 
• No caffeine past noon. Only a small dose of caffeine can interfere with your body's ability to enter the REM cycle.
• Read more tips for getting to sleep here!

What tips do you have to make it through stressful times??