Most of us have had our first midterms of the semester, and this can mean only one thing: The late-night struggles are here to stay. While it may be tempting to revert to a caffeine-and-Chipotle diet, try these healthy solutions instead of the typical temptations.
1. IB’s fries and ketchup vs. baby carrots and cilantro jalapeno hummus from Trader Joe’s
IB’s curly fries and tater tots may try to lure you in as you walk through Asian Ghetto, but our brains work better when we feed them properly. Try hummus and baby carrots as a healthier (though maybe less satisfying) alternative to fries. Whether it’s used to dress up sandwiches or slathered on raw veggies, you can eat hummus all day long. We like the spicy kick of Trader Joe’s cilantro and jalapeno hummus.
2. Coffee vs. tea
You may feel like you need an IV of coffee attached to your arm in order to make it through midterms week. While we’re not going to tell you to kick your caffeine habit during the crucial juncture that is midterm season, you can try tea as a healthier alternative. Try green tea for a shot of caffeine or Tulsi tea — a naturally decaffeinated mint-flavored tea made from basil — to help you destress.
3. C.R.E.A.M. vs. dark chocolate
It’s a known fact that chocolate is the cure for everything. Whether you are stress-eating or rewarding yourself for a productive day in the library, chocolate is the go-to food. Instead of waiting in line at C.R.E.A.M., go wait at Walgreens (seriously, why does there always seem to be a checkout line?) and pick up some dark chocolate. With all the positive mood-boosting benefits of normal chocolate, dark chocolate is also rich in antioxidants, which totally justifies eating an entire bar in one sitting (at least, that’s what we keep telling ourselves).
4. Messy room vs. clean area
An organized room contributes to an organized mind. Midterms may see your desk covered in piles of unidentifiable paper and half-eaten boxes of takeout from Thai Basil, so clean up your clutter and make the area where you are studying comfortable (but not too comfortable — no extra sleeping!).
5. Checklist vs. accomplishment list
While checklists are supposed to be an organizational tool, nine times out of 10, they end up becoming unnecessary sources of stress. Instead of feeling disappointed that you couldn’t finish everything on your list, take note of the things you did accomplish during the day. Be proud of what you accomplished and not demoralized by what you didn’t.
Image sources: SLU Madrid Campus, diettogo1, Laurel Fan, Chocolate Reviews, half alive – soo zzzz and Carissa GoodNCrazy under Creative Commons
Contact Sparsha Saxena at [email protected]