How Do You Take Care of Your Health During Exams?
Are you a student who’s preparing for an upcoming big test?
Then, the pressure of achieving your target can consume most of the time of your day. Only focusing on studies can lead you to a situation where you neglect your overall well-being. Hours of study sessions can affect your physical and mental health. If you do not take care of your health during exam season, then it can give you health issues.
Some common physical and mental issues you can face due to uninterrupted study sessions are:
- Digestive issues
- Back pain
- Headaches
- Stress and anxiety
- Improper sleep
- Strain in neck
If you are facing any of the above issues, you need to pay attention to your health. The abandonment of health during study sessions also affects your preparations. Lack of focus and poor memory are the result of not prioritizing your health during exams. So, you need to address these issues to have better remembering and concentration.
Keep reading further if you want to know the ultimate formula for maintaining good health during study sessions.
Top 8 Ways to Prioritize Health During Exams
You don’t have to compromise on time to take care of yourself while bracing for the tests. There is a need only to incorporate some healthy habits within your schedule. Let us see what little modification you can make to boost your health:
Create a timetable
Proper time management is the first thing you need to do to give time to everything, including health. The easiest way to manage your time is to make a schedule for all the tasks you have to do for the day. The timetable should highlight the following:
- Goals you want to achieve
- Deadline for each goal
- How you plan on utilizing your spare time
You can craft a schedule for a day, week or even month. How much you want to plan ahead depends on you, but remember not to micromanage. Stay flexible with everything and be ready to make necessary changes in the plan on the spot. Altering your schedule when needed will keep you away from the pressure of being a perfectionist. However, do not become so lenient with the timetable that you procrastinate on your important tasks.
Fix your sleep schedule
It is important for you to get 7-8 hours of sleep daily to have better cognitive functioning. A good sleep ensures that your mind stays fresh and can retain most of what you learn. Also, sleeping and waking at the same time every day would help you fall asleep on time and avoid insomnia.
Make your diet balanced
Diet plays an essential role in how your body functions. Food plays a major role in increasing alertness and keeping optimum energy levels. Here are some of the healthy food practices you can include to make your diet nutritious:
- Include omega-rich foods for better cognitive function. Some food items with omega fatty acids include salmon, flax seeds, soybeans and tofu.
- Replace junk food with healthy snack options such as yogurt, nuts, fruits, popcorn and roasted chickpeas.
- Indulge in dark chocolate to reduce stress levels.
- Avoid skipping your meals. Instead, have a diet that comprises all nutrients and vitamins.
Switch coffee with water
The caffeine in the coffee helps you stay awake for hours, but it affects your health in the long term. Excessive coffee will boost your energy levels initially but later cause crashes in the levels. Also, coffee can cause problems like insomnia, dizziness, and headaches. So, it is better to ditch the caffeine with something better, which is water. The simple drink helps boost your mood while helping you to stay focused while you are studying. If you want to be a little creative with staying hydrated, you can go for infused water or herbal drinks.
Sweat a little with fun workouts
Sitting for long durations during the day can affect your physical health and make you lazy. To combat this problem, you can set aside some time for exercise. Working out can help in blood circulation, which refreshes you for the next study session. Also, do you know that you will feel happier by working out? Yes, you read that right. Exercising releases endorphins, which contribute to reducing stress and making you happy.
Maintain good posture
Slouching or resting your head with multiple pillows is something that many students do. Staying in this type of position can have ill effects on your back and neck. If you do not fix your posture on time, then it can turn into a serious problem. You can develop poor posture, rounded shoulders, and a pot belly by slouching. So, it is essential that you have an upright posture while you study. To keep a good posture, keep the back straight, do not lean forward, and keep yourself relaxed.
Regulate mental health with yoga or meditation
Practicing yoga or meditation can help in keeping yourself calm during the pressure of excelling in exams. You only need to dedicate 15-20 minutes of your time to yoga or meditation. If you do not know how to get started, then it is better to get help from the internet. You will find a variety of videos that provide step-by-step guides for practicing yoga or meditation.
Communicate your feelings
You do not need to isolate yourself while you are getting ready to do your best for exams. Keeping yourself restricted from being social can create an imbalance in life. This imbalance is not good, as you may feel lonely and anxious about your own thoughts. So it is important to talk with your friends and family and express your feelings and thoughts. Maintaining a good social life will also keep you motivated during tough times.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, remember that many exams will come and go, but good health is for life. Any success you achieve academically is futile if your health is hampered. So study well, enjoy the process, and stay healthy and happy. At last, all the best wishes to those reading to pass with flying colors in their respective exams.
