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Show l ffhyjvr iv. f o rum fo rtnightly.com - ft itrf3sS5a hours during finals week to ensure dents have access when most needed. . While chips, candy bars, energy drinks and soda taste good and are convenient during those long study sessions, they are not the best brain food. Its important to stay energized and focused with regular meals and snacks throughout the day. The American Dietetic Association suggests avoiding snacks with high sugar content that can cause a sugar rush followed by a ' 5 crash. Instead, eat fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Randy Austin, director of Student Health Services and board certified family nurse practitioner, advises students to never skip meals and to maintain a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat. I k 6 Protein f 6 S n . II j' , q is be- - especially important cause it keeps the body energized and feel- ing full longer, Austin explains. But it is often forgotten in meals. He emphasizes that diet affects performance, and if the body including the mind doesnt have adequate calories and enough energy, it wont perform well. Make sure to eat breakfast, especially before a test. Studies show that eating breakfast improves attention and is asso-- n dated with higher academic achievement. According to the American Dietetic As sociation, research has found that people who dont eat breakfast feel tired, irritable and resdess in the morning, while people who do eat breakfast have a better attitude toward work, productivity and bet- - higher 0 j? 1 y ter ability to handle memory tasks. As for energy drinks and soda, many are loaded with caffeine and sugar. Ac-- S cording to the Mayo Clinic website, the I . caffeine in energy drinks can cause irrita- stu- Fifth, eat healthy. 1 jtoHti- j bility, resdessness and nervousness. Excessive caffeine is also assodated with headaches, tremors, nausea and insomnia. Austin explains that stimulants are okay in moderation. But coffee and tea are good substitutes for energy drinks because they dont have all of the sugar. Sixth, get outside and exercise. With finals often come long hours inside the library staring at computer screens, reading and studying. Getting outside and being active is an ideal way to take a mental break and rejuvenate. Not only does it provide physical benefits, it also improves mental wellbeing. According to the Mental Health Foundation, Regular exercise can help you concentrate, improve sleep, have less tension, stress and mental fatigue, provide a natural energy boost, decrease anger or frustration, and it is fun. Being active doesnt necessarily mean long and strenuous hours at the gym. Go to the park and walk around with friends, go for a bike ride, try hiking one of Salt Lakes many hiking trails or play a game of volleyball or soccer with some friends. Seventh, get plenty of sleep. A solid eight hours of sleep may seem unrealistic between studying for exams and writing papers, but accordten-pa- ge ing to the National Sleep Foundation, Sleep is vital to our health and well being, and is just as important as diet and exercise. Sleep regulates mood and is related to learning and memory functions. Sleep can help you learn a new skill, stay on task or be productive. Austin explains that everyone is different so there isnt an exact amount of sleep students need, but its important to listen to your body. When you dont feel rested, that could indicate a lack of sleep. When people are overly tired they are susceptible to illness. Dont study all night long and think you will accomplish more because sleep deprivation will catch up with you, said Austin. Eighth, reward hard work. Its important to take breaks and reward yourself for all the hard work. The Office of Student Life helps to make that possible by sponsoring Stress Less Week Stress Less Week goes on during finals week and provides students with daily activities to help them deal with the stress and give them a break from studying. All of the activities are free and Westminster students are welcome to attend any or all of the events. Trisha Teig, the director of Student Involvement and Leadership, explains the intent of the Stress Less Week is to encourage students to take some time to destress during this busy time. We want to encourage students to have healthy study habits and learn to take time to breathe during finals week. We hope all students come enjoy any one of our fun events during Stress Less week, said Teig. Wednesday, April 20, the Spring Fling will take place the Residential Green. Students can come and enjoy the outdoors with bounce houses, free food and music. The event will run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Also on Wednesday, Breakfast in wall be the Late-Nig- ht Shaw. Students can come enjoy a home- - cooked breakfast, cooked and served by faculty and staff. The event will begin at 11:00 p.m. Thursday, April 21, students can relish in the last Snack of the Week of the semester. The event is located in the Alumni House and will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Also Thursday evening will be the Donut Delight Night where students can devour delectable donuts. The gorging will begin at 10:00 p.m. in the Behnken Hall basement, also known as the Tingey Lounge. Friday, April 22 is craft time. Students can take a break and participate in craftThe craft making will making to be held in Shaw from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 de-stre- ss. p.m. Free ice cream will be served Monday, April 25 in Shaw from 11:00 a.m. until as Student Life staff states, we run out. Free shoulder massages will be offered on Tuesday, April 26 in Shaw from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Make sure to get there early to sign up for a time. Sign up begins at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 27 is Dog Time. Research shows animals relieve stress. Students can come by the Office of Student Life and play with some of the Student Life staffs animals. The semester is coming to an end and finals week is quickly approaching. five-min- ute Stress levels rise as the pressure builds and students struggle with how to manage ev- erything. Responding to pressure with Red Bull and can sabotage both body and grades. Adequate sleep, healthy snacks, and exercise are the keys to avoiding stress and achieving success during finals. end-of-semes- ter all-night- ers |