Finals week is often accompanied by a mix of emotions–excitement for the end of the year, concern about travel (or not being able to travel this year), and stress about finishing projects, meeting deadlines, and preparing for exams. We want to remind you to take care of yourself during this busy finals week: 

• • Don’t forget to eat. Schedule in time for healthy, mind-fueling meals. 
  • Take study breaks to stretch your legs, get some fresh air, and clear your mind. 
  • Be sure you’re getting enough sleep. While in the moment, it may seem like studying is more important than sleep, you may be doing yourself a disservice: “There are data that sleep loss leads to learning and memory impairment, as well as decreased attention and vigilance,” says Dr. Kushida, a physician at Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic. Lack of sleep could potentially affect your ability to recall information (something you need to take exams) and your performance on exams (e.g., mis-reading questions; not fully understanding what the task). To learn more about sleeping tips, read this article by the American Academy of Sleep Science.

Photo by Cris Saur on Unsplash

Learn More:

• • Read this Managing Stress blog post by Minji Yang, Ph.D., a counselor at SJSU CAPS.
  • Check out our Daily De-Stress for Academic Success tips @SJSUinternational on Instagram.
  • Find resources on our De-Stress page.
  • Take a study break and join us for Thursday Tea Time at 3:00 PM (PT). This is a small, casual meetup led by our Global Leaders.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

References

Importance of Sleep & Effects of Sleep Deprivation on College Students. (2020, January 27). Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://aasm.org/college-students-getting-enough-sleep-is-vital-to-academic-success/