By Anthony Savvides, News Correspondent
Finals begin tomorrow, but students crammed in Snell Library on beautiful, sunny days earlier this week were already feeling the pressure.
Shakeira Fisher, a middler African American studies major, said her commute to campus from Brockton means an early start to the day, around 6:30 a.m.
“I think my sleep habits differ; I stay up later and wake up earlier to give myself time to do everything,” Fisher said. “I don’t drink coffee or energy drinks. I’ve never pulled an all-nighter. I can’t do it, it’s not possible for me. I need to sleep. If I don’t sleep, I can’t function.”
While professors continue to dish out homework, most students are already gearing up for finals instead of focusing on last-minute assignments.
In addition to the stress of finals, some students are still looking for co-op positions. Sarah Longstreet, a junior communications and journalism double major, said her search stretched into the period before finals.
“It was definitely stressful, missing important classes to get to interviews or trying to schedule them around class when I had to get ready for finals,” Longstreet said.
Younger students who have not been through college finals and the co-op search process may be more likely to practice poor study habits. Better habits develop over time, but it is possible to get into a good routine from the beginning, said Dr. Robert M. Klein, director of behavioral health at University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS).
“While the end of the academic year is a stressful time, there are ways we can manage stress and promote good health,” Klein wrote in an email. “[It’s] best to keep the routine that feels ‘normal.’”
Klein recommended students avoid excesses of any kind, including caffeine, exercise, food and alcohol.
While Klein advised moderation in most respects, he did not recommend cutting down on sleep.
“A good night’s sleep will prepare you for memorizing and recalling information in ways that an extra couple of hours studying can’t,” he wrote.
Klein’s advice might seem simple, but as finals approach, the seemingly endless stream of tweets and Facebook status updates alluding to the infamous “all-nighter” suggests most students’ sleep schedules are adversely affected.
Some students might be more inclined to pull an all-nighter or rely on energy drinks if they have an exam to prepare for, but according to Klein, this is not a good tactic.
“Be aware of the effects of caffeinated beverages and foods,” he wrote. “While they may provide a brief increase in alertness they may interfere with sleep, even if taken early in the day. Excessive use of caffeine can be dangerous and may cause or aggravate medical problems as well as cause significant and prolonged anxiety.”
Despite warnings about energy drinks, the popular caffeinated beverages are a necessity for some students at the end of the semester.
“[Energy drinks] become your best friend during finals,” said Ahmad Almuhairi, a freshman civil engineering student. “I know they’re bad for you, but their benefits seem better. For me, getting another two or three hours of studying in a day makes a difference.”
While Klein recommended a steady sleep schedule, he also offered tips on the best snacks for unavoidable long hours in the library.
“Late night snacks that have less effect on alertness include popcorn, fruit, pretzels, crackers,” he wrote. “Snacks that help encourage sleep include milk, nuts, seeds and bananas. Avoid heavy, protein rich and spicy foods late at night. These can interfere with healthy sleep.”
Michelle O’Connor, a senior biology major, has been through her fair share of finals. She said she feels well-equipped to deal with the last remaining exams of her undergraduate career because she has been “continuously reviewing the material throughout the semester, and if it’s consistent then during finals I only have to give one small final push. But you have to keep up with it.”
Despite her preparation, O’Connor, who was tucked away in a far corner on the first floor of Snell, said the end of her semester is not without anxiety.
“One of the most stressful things is finding a place to sit in the library because it gets crazy,” she said.
