Wellness for You!
I am right in the middle of finals and I feel myself not doing well with handling my mood. I just took my Chemistry Final. and What I prepared for it?
I felt burnt out and negative. I feel prepared on the concepts but I don’t have the confidence. I have been studying very hard and I just feel tired. I tried to review everything before the exam and get in a good head space, but I had a frustrating day yesterday. I went to the tutoring center and I had a terrible experience. Right before the exam. I was trying to work through all the homework I was struggling with, then I had a bad experience with a tudor. He was extremely condescending and it really crushed my confidence. I don’t know if it’s from being tired or burnt out but I scheduled my final for tuesday afternoon and monday night I couldn’t sleep. I was so nervous. I tried to prepare by planning my day. I teach Pilates at a senior center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I felt good after teaching, the class was receptive to a new flow I tried and it’s good kara because my only goal is to help people feel good in their bodies. I went to campus after teaching and went straight to the library and started working on my page to use during the exam, then I went to the open lab for my anatomy class to review the forearm muscles before my final Thursday. But I couldn’t focus so I decided to go to tutoring center and bang out as many practice problems as I could. But then that experience in the tutoring center was so awful. I had a question from the homework. The question was “If 28.0% of a sample of gallium-66 decays in 4.46 hours, what is the half-life of this isotope (in hours)?” I couldn’t conceptualize how to start this problem because they usually give you the half life. I showed this problem to a tutor and he just started writing something out and went to hand me the answer, and I said that I wanted to see how you got to the answer, so I could solve it myself and I asked why he was writing that and he looked at me rolled his eyes and was like “ THIS IS CALLED ALGEBRA” and I was really taken a back. seriously? Everything is math, obviously, I am trying to understand how I answer this type of question, so I asked him to please not be condescending. And he got up and said something like “oh honey, maybe math is too hard for you” . I was very upset and i started crying. I still didn’t understand the problem and I was insulted for asking. I felt really defeated. I have done numerous half life problems in calculus, I just didn’t know what to do when they dont give you half life to start. After googling and asking for help from peers, I eventually found the answer. It’s 9.41 hours. But that whole interaction shook my confidence and wasted almost an hour. So I went into this exam pretty upset. I understand I am a young woman, but regardless of what I look like, I shouldn’t be treated with disrespect at my community college. He was so unnecessarily rude to me, there is no reason to treat me like an idiot, especially at the CNM tutoring center!! I wish I could say that this was the first time something like this has happened to me at CNM. It feels like people don’t want women in STEM and it is so frustrating. But for the material I felt ready to at least start solving anytype of problem I was asked. I went back through what I struggled with from the previous exams and realized I need to spend more time with Acid Base Equilibrium.
Anyway I wanted to share with you the ways that you can get in a better mood during finals.
First: Prioritize sleep!
Sleep is essential for maintaining good health and well-being, both physically and mentally. When we don’t get enough sleep, our mood is easily affected, which can lead to increased stress and anxiety. Getting enough sleep each night ensures that we wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead. In addition to improving our mood, adequate sleep also helps our bodies repair themselves and can improve our overall health in the long run.
Sleep is important for maintaining good health, but it also plays a crucial role in academic success. As finals approach, it can be tempting to stay up late studying or cramming for exams, but sacrificing sleep is not worth the potential consequences. Research has shown that students who get enough sleep before an exam perform better than those who do not. So, if you want to improve your grades, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough sleep, especially during finals week.
Second Tip: Create a habit you associate with success!
Nerves can get the best of you and make you not very fun to be around. elevate your mood with grounding exercises that calm you down and ground you. Give yourself rituals. Your favorite coffee/drink from star bucks? A pep talk in the mirror? Give yourself a ritual and tell yourself every time you do it, you do well. There is a big component in getting good grades that includes BELIEVING you can do a good job and get a good grade. Often you hear people say, oh I just need a C. But shoot for that A, don’t doubt yourself! Starting each day with a positive mindset is essential to achieving success. One way to do this is by giving yourself a ritual – it could be as simple as making your favorite cup of coffee or reciting a pep talk in front of the mirror. In addition, it’s important to believe in yourself and your abilities. By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can improve your chances of achieving your goals, including academic success.
Third Tip: Drink enough water!
Drinking enough water is important for our overall health and well-being. Our bodies are made up of about 60% water, and staying hydrated helps to regulate body temperature, transport nutrients and oxygen, and remove waste. In fact, even mild dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. That’s why it’s crucial to make a conscious effort to drink enough water throughout the day, whether it’s through plain water, herbal tea, or even some fruits and vegetables that have high water content.
Fourth Tip: Get the good snacks!
Have plenty to Eat! It is important to feed your brain when you study.
The breakfast should also be reasonably high carbohydrate, given that glucose (from carbohydrates) is the main fuel used by the brain. This could include foods such as breakfast cereals, toast and porridge. However, you may also want to think about adding in some protein as it helps us to feel fuller for longer.
If you are hungry you won’t have a great mood, this one is a super easy fix. It is like those eat a snickers commercials. Sometimes I just really need an oreo.
Fifth Tip: Get some Exercise
Working out can help your mind function, it can also get out some of those nerves so you preform better, Exercise will also boost your mood! If you are feeling anxious, try more strength or cardio, sometimes raising your heart rate can really help.
Conclusion:
Take care of yourself, finals season can be really difficult, but you got this. Try not to be too hard on yourself.
Remind yourself:
Continuing my studies has been a challenging journey, but I feel like I have finally reached a point where I can comprehend the material better. This exam, in particular, did not feel as daunting as the previous ones, and I am confident in the knowledge I have gained so far. Despite the extensive topics covered, I now have a better understanding of the subject as a whole, which is evident in my exam results. I clearly identified the areas where I lacked knowledge and made a conscious effort to improve on them.
What are your tips for keeping a good mood during finals? Anything you think I should add to this list?
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