Tips for a Healthy Exam Week

That time of year has quickly come around again, unfortunately. Exams. This can be a very stressful time for college students, and stress leads to some very unhealthy habits. Here are my tips on being successful this exam week:

1. Sleep: Sleep is obviously crucial for your health and well-being. With little to no sleep, the body does not function well, which leads to bad food choices and lack of motivation. Aim to get at least 6 hours of sleep a night, I would normally say 8, but I know that for most people this can be close to impossible during exams. 
2. Take a study break: Taking a short study break here and there is very important! Take this even a step further by going to the gym, going on a walk, or doing an ab routine. This will help you reduce some of the stress and then you will be able to come back to your studying with fresh eyes. 
3. Stick to your normal eating habits: Continue to eat healthy foods at the times you normally would during the day! Try to avoid eating foods that will make you tired, and stick to healthy greens and proteins. Also, don't overdose on caffeine this week. A cup of coffee won't kill you, but too much caffeine is not good for anyone. Another exam week temptation to avoid is late night snacking. Late night snacking is the cause of weight gain for many college students, as tempting as it is, don't do it. Try not to eat three hours before you go to bed!
4. Exercise: Taking thirty minutes out of your day to exercise is easy! Plus, who wouldn't want a thirty minute break to procrastinate at the gym?! Working out is an amazing stress reliever. You will leave the gym, or wherever you workout, with less stress and lots of positive endorphins. 
5. Meditation: Stress is the worst part of exam week. It hits most students hard, and many end up as balls of stress. You'd be amazed at how much a little deep breathing and meditation can help. When I'm feeling stressed, I turn to meditation. I use a guide online called www.calm.com. Calm.com has so many great options, including how much time you can choose to meditate, so you can do 2 minutes to an hour. I have found that 5 minutes is the perfect amount of time to calm my nerves. Try it for yourself! 

I hope these tips help you get through exam week! Have a fitastic Wednesday :)