Lately, a lot more people have been drinking energy drinks as a source for energy and as an alternative to coffee, however these mighty drinks might not be as good as they seem. There is usually a hefty crash, especially while drinking them at night, and they often give people the jitters, making finals week overall more stressful. Thus, it might be better to just stick with the original café drink. Coffee and tea typically do not have as much caffeine as Monster, Celsius and other popular brands, making it the healthier option. Although coffee and tea have fewer milligrams of caffeine, which might seem pointless, it will pay off when it doesn’t keep your mind and heart racing. Besides the higher caffeine content, a lot of people like the vending machines and their quick dispensing of energized cans, however, there are many to-go coffee and tea options on the Hill and on campus. The Study and Bruin Café have a wide variety of lattes, cappuccinos and nitro brews; there are even several tea bags to choose from. A swipe can cover a drink and a delicious pastry or baked good to pair with it. You can choose between iced and hot as well as modify the type of milk, giving plenty of options to everyone.
There are also several café spots on campus, such as Café 451 at Young Research Library. This is particularly handy since it is close to the many available study spots at the library. This allows students to easily get their caffeine fix without interrupting their study flow. There are a lot more options at this café compared to The Study, with the usual coffees, including other specialty drinks like matcha and chai lattes. Additionally, there is the Southern Lights coffee shop at Bomb Shelter, Jimmy’s Coffeehouse and the Music Café.
Another effective way to stay awake and focused is by studying with friends. Although there is a higher chance of getting distracted, having people around you can help hold you accountable and provide moral support during stressful times. Studying with friends can also help motivate you to keep pushing forward.
It might seem like a good strategy to study in your room since you won’t waste time walking and you have all your stuff nearby. However, having your bed so close could make it more tempting to take a nap or just call it quits and go to sleep. Therefore, it is usually better to study in your lounge or spots around campus or the Hill. To make studying fun, you could also choose to study at a café or library that is open late.
Another helpful spot is to book study rooms. These allow you to have your own space where you can talk out loud, which might help you find a new studying rhythm and make the experience feel less dull. Study rooms are also great for hosting study groups so you can collaborate and tackle multiple topics at once. Most usually come with a whiteboard, which is perfect for visual learners and also gives your eyes a break from iPads, tablets and laptops.
The final tip is to just stay hydrated, especially with water. Drinking plenty of water can help you feel more alert reduce the chances of getting headaches, while keeping you feeling fresher. It can be easy to forget to drink water, but you’ll thank yourself when your skin and eyes don’t feel too dry after the long night.
While energy drinks might seem like a quick fix during finals week, and the high-energy content might seem perfect for these stressful times, they aren’t as helpful as they seem. The crash is usually worse and paying for those cans can quickly add up. By choosing alternatives like coffee and tea, staying hydrated, studying with friends and working a productive environment, you can maintain your energy levels more healthily and you’ll feel a lot happier too!
—
Illustration by Alexis Raquino/BruinLife
