Be healthy for the exams


exams black girlGCSEs, A-levels and finals students – it’s the most important time of the year.  After months of hard work it’s important to stay focused, healthy and alert.

On top of doing lots of work it’s important to:

  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Eat healthy foods, not sugary snacks.
  • Take breaks and relax.
  • Calm down – try Rescue Remedy!

Many students reach for the fizzy drinks, chocolate bars, and caffeinated drinks to keep themselves going, but they often have the opposite effect.  Too much sugar or caffeine in the body can bring about mood swings and poor concentration, while healthy eating and drinking plenty of water help much more.

There are plenty of tips about diet, relaxation, sleep and mental attitude below.  Rescue Remedy drops, spray, or pastilles are a great boon and you can be confident that Confidence Essence and Concentration Essence really can help – see below.  Many of these products are on special offer this May/June.

REMEMBER:

  • Take a bottle of water into the exam with you – your brain needs fluid.
  • Conversely go to the loo before the exam so you’re not thinking abou thow you need to go all the way through.

Life coach, Carole Gaskell, advises:

· ‘Focus on the big picture on what you want to achieve – not just the test or the exam, as they are a means to an end. This helps to lift the pressure slightly and make the brain clearer;

  • Believe that as long as you give it your best shot you’ll be fine;
  • Visualise feeling good during the exam instead of nervous and stressed, and imagine a positive outcome and how you will feel when you get good results.’

‘We all carry our own reality in our heads with words buzzing around so make them positive. Say positive things to yourself such as “I owe it to myself to do my best”.’

Getting zzzzzs

Stephen Palmer, director of the Centre for Stress Management, has a few tips:

  • ‘It’s helpful to get into a routine before going to bed so that you calm down and can sleep well;
  • Don’t do anything too exciting, like watching a horror film;
  • Maybe read a book, drink a glass of milk – avoid Coke or anything with caffeine in it – and unwind.’

He also suggests:

  • Playing some relaxing music before bedtime;
  • Making sure the bedroom isn’t cluttered.
‘If there are school bags around it reminds them of exams, or if the room is messy they may think about their parents nagging them to tidy up. ‘It’s really helpful to lie down and imagine they are on the beach, walking the dog or anything else they really enjoy.’
Some other ways of getting a good night’s sleep:
  • Put a few drops of lavender or geranium essential oils into a night time bath to relax you;
  • Put a couple of drops of Lavender oil on a tissue under the pillow;
  • Take the herb Valerian half an hour before bedtime to promote normal sleep: a trial on students at the University of Surrey found that after a seven day course of Valerian the volunteers were more relaxed and found tests less stressful without feeling dopey – if on medication consult your GP before taking herbal medicines.
  • Drink a glass of milk at night, rather than coffee or fizzy drinks which contain stimulating caffeine.
Featured Products
Lavender Oil Absolute Aromas 10ml £7.58
Valeriana Root Standardised Nature’s Answer 30ml £8.07
Geranium Oil Tisserand 9ml £7.23
Rescue Remedy Night Drops Bach Flower Remedies 10ml £7.00
Rescue Night Spray Bach Flower Remedies 20ml £9.45
To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1

Concentration

Weeks of revising and exams can take their toll and it becomes harder to concentrate and focus, but natural remedies can help.

  • Peppermint, rosemary and basil essential oils clear the head and help concentration – put in an oil burner when studying or put on a tissue and carry into the exam to keep focused – do not use strong oils if taking homeopathic remedies.
  • All schoolchildren used to be given a spoonful of cod liver oil every morning with good reason – Fish oils contain essential fatty acids which are required for healthy brain function, improving focus, and the ability to deal with stress.
  • Concentration Essence combines Larch, Blackberry, Yarrow, Hornbeam, White Chestnut, Nasturtium, Mullein, Wild Oat, Cerato and Peppermint flower essences, especially useful for exam time.
Featured Products
Concentration Essence Bioforce Jan de Vries 30ml £5.34
Organic Rosemary Oil Absolute Aromas 10ml £7.88
Peppermint Oil Absolute Aromas 10ml £8.64
Basil Oil Absolute Aromas 10ml £9.64
Omega 3 Fish Oils Higher Nature 30 capsules £5.83
To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1

Eating for energy

It’s really important to eat well during the exams and not snack on crisps or chocolate all the time, which may appear tempting.  Snacking means that you won’t feel hungry at meal times when you need fuel for your brain.  Sugary snacks and drinks (especially fizzy drinks) prompt a surge in blood sugar levels followed by a slump, which could arrive during the exam and make you feel tired and unable to concentrate.  Also you could feel sick, have an upset stomach or bloating because of your nerves.

The best way to ensure that you feel good is to eat plenty of fibre and an energy-boosting diet:

  • Fish – particularly oily types like mackerel and tuna – because it builds healthy brain cells;
  • Fruit and vegetables which are rich in nutrients to keep the system in top gear;
  • Plenty of fibre – brown rice and wholegrains such as lentils and beans, wholemeal bread and pastas.
  • Healthy snacks – fruit and vegetables, nuts or seeds, or even healthy snack bars.

Vitamin C and Vitamin B are excellent for helping the body to cope with stress. A good multivitamin every day will help.

Featured Products
Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids Low Acid Nature’s Own 30 tablets x 250g £8.20
Floravital Yeast & Gluten Free Iron Formula (vitamins and minerals from vegetables/fruit) Salus Haus 250ml £8.89
Vitamin B Complex Formula Vega 30 £7.08
To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1

 

Breakfast is essential

The worst thing to do is rush out of the door on an empty stomach – that’s a sure way to find it hard to concentrate in the exams. Even if you don’t normally have breakfast, make sure you do on exam days.  Scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast or eggs with bacon provide plenty of protein. Try to avoid sugary cereals or pasties.

Confidence boosting

Lack of confidence can make a capable person under-perform, but natural flower essences encourage self-assurance.

  • Seven drops of Australian Bush Flower Confidence Essence morning and night under the tongue at night brings out positive qualities and confidence, and prevents subconscious negative beliefs!
  • For anyone who doesn’t expect to do well the Bach Flower Remedy, Larch builds up confidence;
  • Gentian Bach Flower Remedy helps someone who hasn’t got much faith in themselves, particularly if they didn’t do well in the mocks.
Featured Products
Larch Original Bach Flower Remedy Bach Flower Remedies 20ml £8.98
Gentian Bach Flower Remedies 20ml £8.98
To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1
  • Calming nerves

    When we panic we shallow breathe prompting headaches, muscle tension, dizziness and a general feeling of tiredness.

    Stephen Palmer of the Centre for Stress Management recommends, ‘Don’t take deep breaths. Breathe slowly and let your stomach go up and down as you do. To really switch off from panicky thoughts pick a number at random and say it in your head as you switch off.’

    Some of Sue Leach’s homeopathic tips:

    • Gelsemium for paralysing fear: ‘If someone feels dizzy, faint, apathetic, heavy, weak, unable to focus and feel like that they’re going to have diarrhoea, it’s ideal. Take one on the morning of the exam and one just before starting.’
    • Argentum nitricum for people getting in such a state that they can’t think straight and their memory has gone to pot. ‘Time seems to stand still yet they operate at double speed and keep wanting sugary things.’ Follow the same directions as for the three As.
    • Rescue Remedy for quick calming. ‘Put a few drops in a bottle of water on the desk to calm down during the exam. Staying hydrated is essential for keeping the brain ticking – studies show dehydration lowers concentration and scores in exams.’
    Featured Products
    Rescue Remedy dropper Bach Flower Remedies 20ml £11.13
    Rescue Remedy spray Bach Flower Remedies 7ml £9.13
    Gelsemium 30C Nelsons Clikpak 84 £5.30
    Argent nit 30C Ainsworths 120 £7.59
    To purchase these products you can go to www.superfooduk.com and get 5% discount with the code: HSoul1

     

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