Are you ready for the test?

At some point during our educational career, we have all experienced intense reviewing/studying for an important mid-term or final exam. Some of us started studying early, and some of us always procrastinated...waiting until the night before the exam and staying up until the wee hours of the morning preparing. The latter of the two is definitely not the better of the two choices and can be detrimental to one's success on an exam.

Taking care of your health is a vital, often undervalued, component of successful preparation for an exam. The energy one obtains from good health should not be dismissed. If you are eating well, getting sufficient sleep and relaxation and exercising on a regular basis, you will be well equipped to manage any anxiety and/or stress caused by exams.

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind during exam time which is typically stressful for students at any level:

1. Eat healthy foods that are protein rich, avoid excess sugar (you will eventually crash after an initial energy boost)
   
2. Be sure to get enough sleep
3. Designate time for relaxation (that is free of electronic devices) and rest your eyes
   
4. Move around (take scheduled breaks from studying and move around, go out for a walk, go into another room, etc
5. Eat breakfast the morning before your exams (e.g. scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, oatmeal)
6. And most of all, BE POSITIVE...attitude is important!