FINALS GUIDE
5
But pulling an all-nighter might not pay off in the long run. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine said in a 2007 study conducted that people who showed signs of sleep deprivation tended to not retain information as well as those who were well-rested. The study also found that people who had symptoms of sleep deprivation were more likely to make mistakes.
So does pulling an all-nighter work?
A study at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., that followed 111 students' sleeping patterns found a positive correlation between sleep and GPA, meaning that students who slept more also had higher GPAs.
Another study, which followed nearly 10,000 students at Minnesota colleges, reported that students who did not get adequate sleep had an average GPA of 3.08 while those who got adequate sleep averaged 3.27. According to The National Sleep Foundation, adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep to be adequately rested.
But negative effects aside, some students still think that the all-nighter is the way to go.
"I think when you pull an all-nighter, and you are by yourself, you focus more." Kudlacz said. "There are a lot less distractions at 3 a.m. than there are at 3 p.m."
Aside from that, some students would rather miss sleep than opportunities.
"its al.' about priorities and how much sleep you individually need," Muckey said. "I would rather pull an all-nighter than miss out on my college experience."
Edited by Melissa Johnson
Beware unhealthy snacks for finals
NUTRITION
BY DANA MEREDITH dmeredith@kansan.com
Finals don't just wreak havoc on students GPAs and social lives. The stress and time involved with exam preparation often destroy healthy eating patterns, as well.
To stay full and energized between meals, some students turn to snacking but reach for unhealthy foods such as chips, candy and cookies to satisfy hunger.
"The biggest problem is that I get a finals snack pack." Kari Cozad, Wichita junior, said. "Then I'll study through lunch or dinner and eat a lot of junk food in the meantime."
Eating as a means of procrastination and stress relief are two other ways students abuse food during finals preparation.
"I don't want to study, so I find something else to do; sometimes that's eating," Jenny Van Wormer, Chicago sophomore, said.
Anxiety might prompt some students to abandon eating altogether.
"If I'm nervous to go to class because I have a presentation or test, I won't eat beforehand because I'm afraid I'll get sick during it," David Haug, Leawood freshman, said.
Chapman said she thought overeating and undereating as responses to stress were
common and advocated stress relieving activities that didn't involve food, which would help people avoid developing unhealthy eating habits.
"Physical activity, like taking a brisk walk, throwing a Frisbee around or playing with a dog can be great stress relievers," Chapman said. "Soaking in a bubble bath or putting in a DVD and taking a 10-minute comedy or humor break are also good ways to alleviate stress."
Restricting the amount of food around the home or residence hall room also prevents unnecessary snacking.
"I don't like to keep food in my room, because I'll eat it when I'm stressed out or bored or whatever," Van Wormer said. "I recommend that you just don't keep food in your room."
In addition to abusing food, students facing large chunks of studying turn to caffeine found in soda and energy drinks to stay awake and alert. Although this can be temporarily effective, overuse of caffeine has negative side effects, Chapman said.
In general, the best way to avoid potential problems with food and caffeine abuse is to enter finals week prepared and organized.
"My advice would be to not to get stressed in the first place," Haug said. "Take care of
HEALTHY FINALS SNACKS
Mozzarella string cheese and Triscuits
- Individual applesauces, puddings, canned fruits and boxes of raisins
- Oatmeals and dried cereals
Low-fat granola bars
Yogurt
Individual juice boxes
Frozen grapes
- Whole wheat bagels with peanut butter
- Light microwave popcorn with a dash of parmesan cheese
- Peanut butter and jam on whole wheat bread
Source: KU Wellness Resource Center
things when they need to be done and then you won't have to worry about it."
- Edited by Justin Leverett
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