Beat the Study Slump

I am in the middle of a second round of midterms. Which is no fun. Studying all day. Trying to memorize (and understand) as much information as possible. It becomes tiring and I cannot wait for tonight at 9pm when I will officially be done midterms for this year (then I will just have finals to worry about but those aren't for a couple of months. Yay!)

After a couple of hours of hard studying (or sooner depending on how many days its been and how often I have gone through the material) I find I need to refocus. Here is what I find helps me to stay on track and get energized again for another couple of hours of studying. 

1/ Eating Healthy 

During exams it is so easy to reach for comfort foods, order a pizza or some other form of takeout. While this can sustain me for the short term I find that I don't study as well when I am not eating healthy. I try to include at least a salad or a green smoothie in my day. I also don't like to eat while I study. 

2/ Sleep

There never seems to be enough hours in the day but one thing I don't skimp on during midterm season is sleep. Its important to staying healthy and not catching any of the bugs that are going around during this time of year and I know that I can study more effectively when I am well rested. When I start to get tired I know its going to take twice as long to get through material. 

3/ Tea

I drink a ton of tea. But I like to switch up what kinds that I am drinking throughout the day. In the morning I usually drink a caffeinated tea to wake me up and get me through the first couple of hours of studying. Once the afternoon hits I switch to green tea and by evening I am drinking only caffeine free tea so that I can make sure I get a good nights sleep.  Tea especially caffeine free tea helps to keep me hydrated as well. 

4/ Taking Breaks 

I like to take breaks every 45 minutes to an hour to stretch my legs or give my brain a break. Usually, I have a goal in mind how far I want to get in the material before I take a break. Depending on what I am studying its 1-3 lectures. 

5/ Treats

Sometimes I need some external motivation for getting through. I like to reward myself for finishing a unit or getting through a section. Usually this is in the form of food, a small piece of chocolate etc that gives me a sugar rush. Other times I like to use longer breaks (an hour or so) as a reward and watch a tv show.  

6/ Change of Scenery 

I usually study in the same place (at my kitchen table). Which I like because I can usually get a lot of work done here uninterrupted and I am pretty productive. However, sometimes changing scenery and going to the library or even just a different room to study is enough to get me back on track and feeling refreshed. 

Winter Skin Care Tips

The cold, snowy weather has been reeking havoc on my skin. My lips are cracked and my hands have been dry for days! The super cold weather outside to the drying heated air inside is not helping this situation in the least.

Hydrate!
I make sure I am drinking enough water in the winter. Keeping hydrated is one of the best ways to fight  dry skin. I up my water intake but if I want something hot I turn to herbal teas.

Protect!
If I go out without gloves for even the shortest amount of time my hand become extremely dry and cracked. Simply remembering to wear gloves goes a long way in saving my hands from become a dry cracked mess.

Sunscreen is also important in the winter. This is often something I forget and am working on adding sunscreen into my daily routine. The snow reflects the suns rays and no one looks attractive with a ski google tan.

Exfoliate and Moisturize! 
It is important to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells so that your moisturizer can be more effective. I find my skin is sensitive so I don't exfoliate on a daily basis but try to at least once or twice a week. I love using coconut oil as a moisturizer and lip gloss. I carry a lip balm with me everywhere I go and usually apply before going outside as an extra layer of protection for my lips. In the winter I also like to have hand cream with me at all times as well. I like the shea butter in this one and that it doesn't leave your hands greasy.


What are your winter beauty secrets?
Jaclyn