The quality of sleep and nutrition can determine students’ academic success as finals week quickly approaches. The high stakes of finals week, with exams sometimes being worth over 50 percent of a student’s grade, can make dietary and sleep decisions critical in earning the grade they desire.

“You need physical exercise, you need good nutrition, and you need good sleep,” said Psychology Department Professor Pamela Thatcher. “If those three things are satisfied in your life, I think you are going to do very well with your tests and your stamina when it comes to getting through finals. And if you take one of those away, you will get serious aches and pains.”

In brain functioning and learning, nutrition and sleep are especially linked. “Your brain needs time to rest and it also needs fuel,” said Associate Professor Karin Heckman from the Biology Department. “If you aren’t getting one or the other, that can impact your ability to study and also your mood and attitude.”

A nutrient-filled diet is essential to fully functioning as a student. “When people don’t eat well, their ability to function declines and they are more likely to get sick,” said Heckman. “I always tell students to eat more fruits and vegetables because that is where you are going to get the molecules that help your brain function properly.”

Diet impacts the quality of sleep as well. “If you are hungry before you sleep, you will not sleep well,” said Thatcher. “If you are full, that can also sometimes prevent you from starting your sleep cycle.”

Both Heckman and Thatcher recommend that students refrain from using large dosages of drugs and alcohol during finals week. “It’s no good for me to say don’t do drugs or alcohol because that’s not going to happen,” said Thatcher. “I suggest taking only familiar things and the lowest dosages that you can manage.”

The same hesitancy towards drugs and alcohol should be applied to caffeine. “You are already stressed enough when you take a test so if you’re taking a caffeinated beverage, that can just make your jitters even more pronounced,” said Heckman.

As for all night studying, Thatcher advises students to do what they feel is necessary. “One all-nighter is not going to trash your grades,” she said. “If you are doing a lot of all-nighters, however, I would check out a couple books on procrastination and address personality tendencies towards putting things off.”

In the end, it is important to end the semester on a positive note. This includes driving safely when returning home for break. “When you get in a car and you’re tired, your reaction time is very slow,” said Thatcher. “Please caffeinate or sleep. Don’t just get in your car.”